#he’s saying that the second half mentality the conceding 3 goals in 20 mins was unacceptable

[whitehartlane]

the reading comprehension of our fanbase is in the gutters man wow

[winterolympicssports2018-blog]

Son Heung-min says S. Korea need better efforts for World Cup

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Son Heung-min says S. Korea need better efforts for World Cup

CHORZOW, Poland, March 28 (Yonhap) — South Korean forward Son Heung-min believes that the national team needs to make better efforts after suffering two friendly losses in Europe in the runup to the World Cup.

South Korea fell 3-2 to Poland in their friendly match at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, on Tuesday. It was their second straight defeat following a 2-1 loss to Northern Ireland in Belfast last Saturday.

Against Poland, South Korea leveled the score from two goals down but surrendered the winner to Piotr Zielinski in second-half stoppage time.

Son, who has netted 18 goals this season for Tottenham Hotspur, said his side should not have conceded two goals from the start.

“As for Poland’s first goal, they sent in a good cross for (Robert) Lewandowski, who is such a good player, but we should not have allowed the second goal,” Son said after the match. “At the World Cup, all teams are stronger than we are, and if we concede easy goals, we’ll face serious problems.”

   South Korea’s Son Heung-min (R) takes a shot as Poland’s Kamil Glik tries to block his attempt during a friendly football match between South Korea and Poland at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, on March 27, 2018. (Yonhap)

South Korea are in Group F at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, along with Germany, Sweden and Mexico. The match against Poland was to prepare for their clash against Germany at the World Cup.

“We have to consider that Germany are stronger than Poland,” he said. “If we concede goals like we did in the first half, we’ll really have some trouble.”

   Son lamented that the national team ended the two recent tuneup matches with losses.

“It’s positive that our strong mentality helped us score two goals later, but as a player, it’s a pity that we couldn’t get a good result in the end,” he said. “It makes us think about our shortcomings instead of our strengths.”

   Son, who has 20 goals in 63 international matches, said South Korea need to reduce mistakes at the World Cup.

“I think little things make differences in football,” he said. “We have to accept that we’re not superior to others and need to concentrate even on small things.”

   Against Poland, Son started as a center forward, flanked by Kwon Chang-hoon and Lee Jae-sung, in a 3-4-3 formation. After Red Bull Salzburg forward Hwang Hee-chan came on to the pitch, South Korea switched to 4-4-2 to operate a two-striker system.

“When we’re using three forwards, I was left alone most of the time,” he said. “I had to wait for the ball and had to create space for teammates.”

   South Korea’s Son Heung-min (R) controls the ball against Poland’s Artur Jedrzejczyk during a friendly football match between South Korea and Poland at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, on March 27, 2018. (Yonhap)

Son said he felt comfortable with Hwang playing up front. Hwang later scored South Korea’s second goal to make the score 2-2.

“Hwang has good movements, and he penetrated Poland’s backline to create space,” Son said. “If we can use the two-forward system well, I think our attack can be upgraded.”

   With his second World Cup less than three months away, Son said he’ll try to stay fit.

“Not only myself, but all the players should avoid injury,” he said. “We’re all tired physically and mentally right now, but I hope all of us can make better efforts to prepare for the World Cup.”

   kdon@yna.co.kr

(END)

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[365footballorg-blog]

Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire | 2018 MLS Match Preview

April 26, 20182:20PM EDT

Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire 2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 9 BMO Field – Toronto April 28 – 3 pm ET WATCH: CTV, ESPN+

Toronto FC will have the difficult task of picking themselves up after their devastating defeat on penalty kicks in the Concacaf Champions League final and shifting focus to the MLS regular season.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire head to BMO Field full of confidence after handing the New York Red Bulls their first home loss of the season last Saturday.

Toronto have won six straight in MLS play against the Fire. They had won three of their first 20 matches against Chicago (9L-8D), per Opta.

Toronto FC

After coming agonizingly close to capturing the CCL title, only to have a Marky Delgado sitter sail over the bar in second-half stoppage time, Toronto return from Guadalajara with the grueling tournament behind them.

But what toll did the CCL take? TFC come home bruised and battered, physically and mentally drained.

“I have no complaints for my team,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said in his post-match press conference. “We worked hard. This tournament has been a grind and we battled the entire way, all the way to the end. Congratulations to Chivas, they won. I’ve got nothing to say to my guys other than I’m proud of them.”

Suspended: None

Suspended after next caution: None

International duty: None

Injury Report: OUT: D – Nick Hagglund (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: M – Victor Vazquez (back spasms); PROBABLE: D – Chris Mavinga (abdominal discomfort), D – Gregory van der Wiel (Achilles), F – Jozy Altidore (foot), D – Justin Morrow (calf strain), D – Drew Moor (undisclosed)

Projected Starting XI (3-5-2, right to left) GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Jason Hernandez, Jullian Dunn-Johnson — Auro, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Ashtone Morgan — Jordan Hamilton, Sebastian Giovinco

Notes: Toronto have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of games this season, tied for the most in the league. They allowed six goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches in the 2017 regular season. … The Reds have lost four of their first five matches this season (1W), getting outscored 11-4 in the process.

Chicago Fire

Was it the definition of a smash-and-grab victory? Does it even matter? The Fire (2-3-1) conceded possession and were outshot 22-4, but they were more clinical in putting away their chances and came away with a 2-1 win over the Red Bulls Saturday.

Aleksandar Katai opened the scoring with a stunning strike, latching into an Aaron Long headed clearance to beat Luis Robles with a full volley from just outside the 18-yard box. Chicago then hit the Red Bulls on a counter, with Katai being pulled down by Robles in the box and Nemanja Nikolic putting away the decisive penalty kick in the 69th minute.

On the other end, Richard Sanchez was brilliant, making nine saves en route to being named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 8.

Suspended: None

Suspended after next caution: None

International duty: None

Injury Report: OUT: D – Jorge Corrales (infection), F – Michael de Leeuw (left ACL), M – Djorjde Mihailovic (right ACL), M – Matt Polster (right MCL), F – Luis Solignac (left quad)

Projected Starting XI (3-4-3, right to left) GK: Richard Sanchez —  Johan Kappelhof, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Grant Lillard — Kevin Ellis, Mo Adams, Dax McCarty, Brandon Vincent — Elliot Collier, Nemanja Nikolic, Aleksandar Katai

Notes: In the 29 games in which Bastian Schweinsteiger has played in, the Fire have a passing accuracy of 75.2 percent in the opponent’s half, as opposed to 68.7 percent in the 11 games he has not played in since the start of last season. … Chicago have lost just one of their last four MLS matches (2W-1D) after losing four straight (inc. playoffs).

All-Time Series

Overall: Toronto FC 9 wins, 42 goals … Chicago Fire 9 wins, 41 goals … 8 ties

At Toronto: Toronto FC 7 wins, 28 goals … Chicago Fire 4 wins, 24 goals … 3 ties

Last meeting at Toronto: Toronto FC 3, Chicago Fire 1 (April 21, 2017)

Officials

Referee: Alan Kelly Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Logan Brown 4th Official: Nima Saghafi VAR: Kevin Terry Jr

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Toronto FC vs. Chicago Fire | 2018 MLS Match Preview was originally published on 365 Football