Veteran goalkeeper says patience key to his penalty saves in ACL quarterfinals

SUWON, South Korea, Sept. 19 (Yonhap) -- Suwon Samsung Bluewings goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong said Wednesday that patience was the secret behind his penalty saves in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) quarterfinal match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Suwon advanced to the last four of the premier Asian club tournament after beating Jeonbuk 4-2 on penalties. The two teams entered a penalty shootout after they were tied 3-3 on aggregate and went scoreless in extra time.

Suwon had a three-goal advantage after winning the first leg 3-0. But they blew up the lead in the second leg at home as Jeonbuk also scored three goals. In the second-half stoppage time, Suwon allowed a penalty kick, and many thought their ACL campaign would be over.

But that's when Shin stepped up. The 35-year-old denied Adriano's spot kick to force the match into extra time and later made two more saves in the penalty shootout.

"I firmly believed that we were not going to lose in extra time and that we would win when the match enters a penalty shootout," Shin said after the match. "I tried to remember the moment that I saved Adriano's penalty kick in the second half and wanted to have positive energy."

In the penalty shootout, Shin first parried away Kim Shin-wook's spot kick. He later conceded a goal to Adriano but blocked Lee Dong-gook's attempt. His Suwon teammate didn't miss their penalty chances and sealed the victory.

"I can't tell all of my secrets, but coach Lee Woon-jae told me to wait until the final moment," he said. "There are many players who take their kicks after watching the goalkeeper's movement, so I think my plan to wait and react calmly did work."

Shin, a veteran who has played more than 300 matches in the K League 1, said he also studied a lot about the opposing team's patterns and styles in penalty shootouts.

"These days, lots of players send their spot kicks to the center of the net, so I really analyzed the opposing team's styles," he said. "We're living in a world where you can find abundant data just by entering the player's name. That data really helps me."

Shin won the ACL title in 2009 when he was with the Pohang Steelers. He joined Suwon in 2017 after playing 13 seasons with Pohang.

Suwon will make their first ACL semifinals appearance since 2011. The two-time continental champions will next face Kashima Antlers of Japan in the semifinals.

"The fact that we reached the semifinals is not that important," he said. "What's now important is that we have to play a good game against Kashima and need to reach the final."

kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)