Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) successfully completed a World Cup rehearsal.
LAFC drew 1-1 on the 15th (KST) in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals against Cruz Azul at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico. Having won the first leg 3-0, LAFC advanced to the semifinals with one win and one draw.
LAFC's next opponent is the winner of LA Galaxy and Toluca. A Galaxy–LA derby could be possible. It is LAFC's first time reaching the semifinals in three years.
Son Heung-min prioritized a teammate's goal over his own. In stoppage time an opposing defender was sent off, giving LAFC a numerical advantage of 11-10. On the ensuing counterattack, Son Heung-min was the starting point of the attack. During LAFC's shooting sequence an opponent's defensive handball was called, and a penalty kick was awarded.
Son Heung-min did not show selfishness for the goal from the chance he created. He conceded the penalty he won to Denis Bouanga. Bouanga calmly converted the penalty to make it 1-1. With that goal LAFC maintained a 4-1 aggregate score and secured a place in the semifinals.
The match was meaningful for Korea national team captain Son Heung-min because it allowed him to indirectly experience the World Cup through an away match in Mexico. The match in Puebla was at a high altitude of 2,160 meters above sea level. Thin air can cause rapid fatigue for soccer players. Son Heung-min played 90 minutes and showed high speed without a drop in stamina. There was none of the high-altitude sickness everyone worried about.
Son Heung-min said, "The air in Mexico is refreshing," indicating he had no major difficulty adapting to the high altitude. That is a significant remark for the Hong Myung-bo-led squad, which will play all three group matches in Mexico.
Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will face the Czech Republic, Mexico and South Africa in Group A of the North and Central American World Cup. Korea will play all three matches against host Mexico in Mexico. Adapting to high altitude is more important than ever.
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