 The expression on Ahn Jeong-hwan¡¯s face as he warmed-up with his fellow players at half time was bright and substituting for with Hwang Sun-hong 11 minutes into the second half, he began threading his away among the Americans. And then 33 minutes into game, Korea earned a free kick from the center of mid-field. Lee Eul-yong struck it into the goal area and Ahn jumped to head the ball home into the right hand side of the goal. It was the tying goal that gave hope to the Korean team, which was losing 0-1 and Ahn had done his share as a "problem solver" handsomely.
Ahn plays for Perugia and yet he had not earned the trust of Coach Guss Hiddink who said, "He is weak, does not like to fight, and has low defense skills."
Last March in training in Spain, Ahn got his last opportunity to join the World Cup team and he joined with much difficulty. He didn't give up his last chance; in the game with Finland, he became an offensive mid-fielder and moved the coach's decision by his bold rushing and fast shooting. He even participated actively in the defense with tough physical play.
In the game with Costa Rica held in Daegu in April, he assisted with Cha Du-ri's goal and set fire to the competition for the ace player on the team. In the May 16 game with Scotland in Busan, he entered in the second half and showed spectacular personal skills, scoring 2 goals and assisting in one. His goal ceremony of kissing his wedding ring with wife Lee Hye-won (23) caught everyone's attention.
Growing up with just his single mother, Ahn entered Busan Daewoo in 1998. In 1999, he was selected as the MVP of the regular league and fulfilled his dreams of "running in the big league" when he was hired by Italy's Perugia in 2000. He has had many chances to be an ace player, but the experience in Europe helped him become a World Cup star.
(Hong Heon-pyo, bowler1@chosun.com )
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