Seongnam FC’s twenty-two year old striker Hwang Ui-Jo is having an impressive start to the season. His midweek goal to win the match against Yeongnam University in the FA Cup was his eleventh goal this season in all competitions (he also scored the only goal of Seongnam’s victory in the previous round over Busan Transportation).
That goal put Seongnam into the quarter-finals of the competition that they won last year, and with a home tie against Ulsan in the next round, they must fancy their chances of retaining the trophy this year. Hwang Ui-Jo joined Seongnam from Yonsei University, one of the most prestigious universities in Seoul, in 2013.
He scored his first goal for the club early in that season against Seongnam’s rivals Suwon, instantly gaining the respect of the Seongnam supporters.
In his first two seasons at the Tancheon Complex, Hwang Ui-Jo only scored six league goals in total, but he has sprung to life this season with six goals already in the league, as well as two goals against Gamba Osaka, and one against Guangzhou Evergrande in the Asian Champion’s League, showing that he can perform against some of the best teams in Asia.
A big game player who poaches goals from close range, Hwang Ui-Jo’s best performance of the season came at the end of May against league leaders Jeonbuk. Hwang scored twice in the last ten minutes of that game, both from within the six yard box, as Seongnam came from behind to win two-one.
He scored another late goal from close range in Seongnam’s recent one-all draw against Gwangju.
Hwang Ui-Jo hasn’t made his national team debut yet, having only played for the under-21’s, but if he continues his form then he may work his way into contention for the national team.
Written by Steven Price
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