Inbeom Hwang is back to scoring goals, this time in South Korea’s opening match of the East Asian Football Championship.
The 23-year-old Designated Player, who was signed by the Vancouver Whitecaps last January from Daejon Citizen FC, deftly curled home the opener in a 2-0 win over Hong Kong. Just left of center of the goal, Hwang went for placement over power with his right foot.
South Korea have won the East Asian Championship a record four times, including back-to-back ones (2015, ‘17). They’re hosting the current tournament, which runs through a final match between South Korea and Japan on Dec. 18. The winner will advance to the AFF–EAFF Champions Trophy against the winner of the AFF Championship.
As Hwang prepares for the 2020 MLS season, he’ll hope to build off an inaugural campaign in which he recorded three goals and five assists across 34 matches.
The Whitecaps are entering their second year under head coach Marc Dos Santos, and are seeking a turnaround after finishing bottom of the Western Conference standings with an 8-16-10 record.
