It’s not easy to score four goals, aka a quattrick in a Premier League class competition. Of the many players, only special figures can do it. Most recently, Tottenham striker from South Korea, Son Heung-min proved himself a special player by scoring four goals in one match.
In the second week of the 2020/21 Premier League match against Southampton at St Stadium. Mary’s, Sunday (9/20/2020), Son made Jose Mourinho, the Spurs coach, happy. After being left behind by a goal by Danny Ings, The Lilywhites did not panic and ended the match with a 2-5 win. Of the five goals that were created, four of them were scored by the former Bayer Leverkusen man.
Since his arrival in 2015, Son has been an important Spurs player. The game is counted consistent every season. Transfermarkt noted, Son appeared in 160 matches and scored 53 goals in five seasons in the Premier League. He averaged 32 appearances per season.
On the other hand, his connection with Harry Kane also looks more solid. All of the goals that Son scored in the match against Soton took advantage of Kane’s assistants.
The performance of the two attackers is increasingly relied on by Spurs in the attack line. Last season, more than half of Spurs’ goals were contributed by the Son-Kane duet.
“To score my first Premier League hat-trick for Spurs is a huge honor. I am grateful for this opportunity, thankful for my team-mates and especially Harry [Kane], it was an extraordinary performance from him and he is an extraordinary figure, “Son said as quoted by the official Spurs website.
Son appeared effective against Southampton. He scored four times against Alex McCarthy from four shots on goal, incised a 100% conversion rate.
The 28-year-old striker is more mature when he gets his chance and faces one on one with the opposing goalkeeper. In the process of the first goal, Son pushed the ball while looking at Alex McCarthy’s position before releasing a kick. As for the second goal, his composure and timing were perfect.
Son Heung-min’s record in the Premier League
The quatrick printed by Son Heung-min made him now level with a number of Tottenham Hotspur legends. As reported by the club’s official website, previously there were five Spurs players who could score four goals in one match, namely Jurgen Klinsmann, Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, and Harry Kane.
It’s even better because Son is the first Asian player to do it. Of the many Asian players who have played in the Premier League, none can score a quattrick.
That record also makes Son the second Asian player to score a Premier League hat-trick. Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa is the first Asian player to score a Premier League hat-trick. He scored three goals against Norwich City while defending Manchester United in 2013.
Son’s brilliance also makes him worthy of being considered the best South Korean player to have worked in the Premier League. Before Son, the most prominent South Korean player was Lee Chung-yong. The player who joins Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace has scored eight goals in nine seasons in the Premier League.
Two other names from South Korea, namely Ki Sung-yueng and Park Ji-sung also had time to take part in the Premier League. The first name scored 15 goals with three different clubs (Swansea, Sunderland, Newcastle). Meanwhile, Park Ji-sung, who played for Man United for seven seasons, collected 20 goals from a total of 133 matches.
Son’s goal scoring in the Premier League is far superior to his compatriots. This proves that, at least, in terms of goalscoring achievements, Son is the best out of South Korean names to have tasted the atmosphere of the Premier League.
Apart from the quattrick, Son scored one special goal in the 2019/20 season when he met Burnley. At that time, he made a solo run from his own defense and beat the visitors’ goalkeeper.
After the match. Jose Mourinho praised the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist. Mourinho identified him with Ronaldo Nazario. In fact, the nickname “Sonaldo” was pinned by Mourinho because he saw the appearance and speed of Son who was considered to be like Ronaldo from Brazil.
ASL
