Korea’s Son Praises Teammates for Making 100th Appearance Memorable

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring the goal against Chile during a friendly match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP)
South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring the goal against Chile during a friendly match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP)
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Korea’s Son Praises Teammates for Making 100th Appearance Memorable

South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring the goal against Chile during a friendly match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP)
South Korea's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring the goal against Chile during a friendly match at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Monday, June 6, 2022. (AP)

South Korea forward Son Heung-min thanked his teammates for making his 100th appearance in national colors one to remember after they recovered from a drubbing against Brazil last week to ease past Chile on Monday.

Son marked the landmark with a stunning late free kick to seal the 2-0 win over 10-man Chile after Hwang Hee-chan had put the hosts in front with a first-half strike.

"More so than my goal, I want to thank my teammates for competing in this match with such a great attitude," Son was quoted as saying by the Yonhap News Agency after the win in Daegu.

"It's always difficult to bounce back so quickly after the kind of loss we had against Brazil. But everyone showed a lot of mental toughness. I am so happy to have won my 100th match."

The World Cup-bound Koreans were thumped 5-1 by Brazil in Seoul last Thursday, with Son later saying that he was hopeful that the defeat would be a learning experience for his side.

"It would have been awkward if people had congratulated me on my 100th match after a loss," added the 29-year-old.

Son enjoyed a prolific season with Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 24 times and providing 10 assists across all competitions as Antonio Conte's team secured Champions League qualification.

Asked if he ever thought he would reach 100 caps, Son said: "Time has flown by, and I've barely had time to reflect. I've dreamed about maybe reaching the century mark one day, but mostly, I've been trying not to get too ahead of myself."

Korea will host Paraguay in a friendly on Friday before taking on Egypt four days later.



Riyadh to Host Professional Fighters League Finals Friday for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
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Riyadh to Host Professional Fighters League Finals Friday for 1st Time in Saudi Arabia

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA
This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this an event of this level - SPA

Riyadh is scheduled to host the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Finals on Friday, featuring elite global athletes in mixed martial arts.

This marks the first time the Kingdom has hosted this prestigious event, organized by the Saudi Mixed Martial Arts Federation in collaboration with the PFL and under the supervision of the Ministry of Sport. The event will take place at King Saud University's indoor arena, according to SPA.
The finals, part of a series of global events hosted by the Kingdom, will feature six main bouts across various official weight classes. Competitors will vie for titles and a total prize pool of $6 million, with $1 million awarded to each winner of the official matches.
Saudi Arabia's hosting of this event reflects its growing global status in recent years, establishing it as a preferred destination for regional and international sports events across all games, which underscores the Ministry of Sport's commitment to sustainable efforts aimed at achieving the sports objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 to reach sports excellence at all levels.