Coach Yoon Jeong-hwan valued Yang Min-hyuk (18, Gangwon FC) more than his immediate performance. Even though he cherished Yang Min-hyuk, the ace, he succeeded in leading the game by making a victory at an away game in Gimcheon.
Gangwon came from behind to win 2-1 against Gimcheon Sangmu in the 26th round of the K League 1 of the 2024 season at Gimcheon Stadium on August 9.
Striker Lee Sang-hun took the lead in the team’s victory by scoring multiple goals. Yang Min-hyuk, who started as a right-handed midfielder, helped Lee Sang-hun’s equalizer in the extra time of the first half, living up to his name. With the victory, Gangwon pushed Gimcheon to second place and rose to the lone lead.
Coach Yoon said, “We expected the Gimcheon away game to be a difficult game from the preparation process,” adding, “Before today’s game, we lost both matches against Gimcheon this season, so we desperately needed to win.”
“We talked about ‘let’s win’ with the players. I think the players are amazing. They showed their fighting spirit to the end and earned three points. I’m a little disappointed that we have an injured person, but we’ll prepare well,” he said.
One of the injured Yoon said was Yang Min-hyuk. This is why Gangwon couldn’t just laugh after taking the lead.
Yang did not play in the second half. Side striker Kim Kyung-min replaced Yang just before the start of the second half.
Yang collapsed during a ball competition in the 34th minute of the first half, and couldn’t get up for a long time. Even medical staff were deployed.
Yang Min-hyuk’s face, which had a hard time getting up, showed a red wound.
Coach Yoon explained Yang Min-hyuk’s situation after the game.
Manager Yoon said, “(Yang) Min-hyuk said, “I was hit in the face by a soccer shoe during the game,” adding, “The early replacement is not just because of my face.”
Coach Yoon continued, “I have some abnormalities in my body. I decided that it would be better to take it out before it becomes a bigger problem. Minhyuk’s body is as important as the team. We need to wait and see the situation. I will have a chance to clarify it later.”
Yang Min-hyuk is a super rookie who debuted in K League 1 this season.
Yang, a high school student, is actively playing as a Gangwon player this season. Yang has eight goals and five assists in 26 matches in the K League this season. He had three goals in the previous two matches against Gimcheon. 안전놀이터
Yang played the fewest minutes before the match on the day against Jeju United on March 2, when he played 51 minutes. It was the opening game of this season and Yang’s debut game as a professional.
Yang Min-hyuk played only 45 minutes in the first half in the first game after a two-week break.
Yang has confirmed his move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer market. Yang will join Tottenham in January next year after completing his K-League 1 schedule.
Coach Yoon could have kept Yang Min-hyuk playing for the team’s performance, but he saw the future of the player.