Introduction
When we think of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, there are few iconic moments that come to mind: Rivaldo’s theatrics against Turkey, Ronaldinho’s free kick against England, Oliver Kahn’ blunder in the World Cup Final. But for South Korean football fans, there is one moment that stands out above all the rest: Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal against Italy.
Rise to Fame
Ahn Jung-hwan was not a household name before the 2002 World Cup. He had been a professional footballer for six years, but had never played for the national team. However, his performances for K-League team Busan I’Park caught the eye of the national team’s coach, Guus Hiddink, and he earned a spot on the team for the tournament.
The Underdog Story
The South Korean team was not expected to do much at the World Cup. They were placed in a group with Poland, Portugal, and the United States, and many experts predicted they would not make it out of the group stage. However, Ahn and his teammates had other plans. They began the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Poland, and followed it up with a 1-1 draw against the United States. Their last group stage match was against Portugal, and a win would secure their place in the round of 16. The match ended in a 1-0 victory for South Korea, and they became the second Asian team advance to the round of 16 of the World Cup after Japan.
The Goal of a Lifetime
The round of 16 match was against Italy, one of the favorites to win the tournament. The match was held at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium in South Korea, and the stands were filled with passionate South Korean fans, who were cheering on their team in the hopes of pulling off the impossible.
The match was a tense and physical battle from the start, with both teams fighting for every inch of the field. Italy took the lead in the first half with a goal from Christian Vieri, but South Korea equalized just before the end of the match with a goal from Seol Ki-Hyeon. The second half was filled with end-to-end action, with both teams creating several scoring opportunities.
As the clock ticked down, it seemed that the match would be decided by penalties. But in the 117th minute, Ahn received a cross from outside the box and somehow managed to jump higher than Maldini and with a header sent the ball past Gianluigi Buffon. The stadium erupted in cheers as the South Korean team and fans celebrated the historic goal. The goal not only eliminated Italy from the tournament, but it also sent South Korea into the quarter-finals, where their next opponent was Spain.
The Controversy
The match between Italy and South Korea was not without controversy, as many Italian fans and players felt that the referee, Byron Moreno Ruales of Ecuador, had made several questionable calls that favored South Korea. The most notable of these was a disallowed goal by Italy’s Damiano Tommasi in the second half, which would have put Italy ahead 2-1. Replays showed that the goal should have stood, as Tommasi was in an onside position when he received the pass. This disallowed goal proved to be a crucial turning point in the match, and it left the Italian team and fans feeling robbed and frustrated.
Moreover, Moreno also gave Italy’s Francesco Totti a second yellow card in for a supposed dive in the box, reducing Italy to 10 men for the rest of the match. Totti’s dismissal was met with a lot of criticism from the media, as many felt that the decision was harsh and unjustified. The Italian team had to play with one less player for the rest of the match, which made it even more difficult for them to come back and win the match.
These calls, combined with Ahn’s golden goal, led to Italy’s elimination from the tournament and caused a great deal of frustration and disappointment for the Italian team and fans. Many Italian players and officials expressed their disappointment and frustration after the match, and some even claimed that the referee’s performance had influenced the outcome of the match.
The Aftermath
Ahn’s golden goal against Italy not only made him a hero in his home country, but it also earned him international recognition. In 2002 he was playing in Serie A on loan in Perugia as the first South Korean footballer in Italy.
However, Ahn’s time at Perugia was short-lived. The team’s owner, Luciano Gaucci, infamously declared that he would never again employ a South Korean player, citing Ahn’s goal against Italy as the reason for the team’s elimination from the tournament. “That man will never set foot in Perugia again,” Gaucci was quoted as saying. Ahn was released from his contract and had to look for a new club. The decision from the owner of Perugia was met with condemnation from many in the football world, and it was seen as a clear act of discrimination.
This event only added more drama and mystery to the story of Ahn Jung-hwan, as it was a clear example of how one single moment of magic on the field could have a ripple effect that extended far beyond the final whistle. It also shows how sports can bring out the worst in some people, and how prejudices can still affect people’s lives and careers.
The Impact
Ahn’s goal against Italy was not only a historic moment for South Korean football, but it also had a significant impact on the sport in South Korea as a whole. The victory brought the country together and sparked a renewed interest in football. It also helped to establish South Korea as a serious contender in international football. Ahn’s goal was not only a moment of pure drama and mystery, but also a symbol of hope and inspiration for the South Korean people.