Spurs ace Son Heung-min claims he was lucky to escape South Korea’s ‘war-like’ derby without injury
SON HEUNG-MIN claims he was lucky to return injury free from international duty after a ‘war-like’ derby against North Korea.
South Korea’s star forward only arrived back at Spurs yesterday, so is unlikely to start at home to Watford tomorrow after just one day’s training.
The first competitive clash between the two countries — who are technically still at war — was played out in an empty stadium in Pyongyang and ended 0-0.
Son, 27, played 90 minutes in the World Cup qualifier on Tuesday but no foreign media were allowed in and the game was not broadcast live.
He said: “The match was very aggressive — it’s a huge achievement just to return safely without being injured.”
South Korea’s FA vice-president Young-il Choi added: “It was like war.
“They used everything from elbows to hands to knees to fend off our players. It was difficult.”
The clash was the first time the rivals have faced off in the North’s capital, Pyongyang, since 1990 but supporters were limited to online commentary that consisted of only substitutions and bookings.
South Korean supporters have since been promised a DVD containing footage of the match before the delegation heads home, according to the country’s unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.
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Paulo Bento’s side had been forced to travel Pyongyang via China and had to leave their phones in Beijing.
Only 30 staff members from the South’s football association (KFA) were allowed limited communications to report the game, by sending faxes to government offices in Seoul.
Notoriously private North Korean state media have so far made no mention of the World Cup qualifier.