Hwang In-beom scores crucial equalizer in Olympiacos debut

Hwang In-beom with his teammates celebrates after scoring for Olympiacos in an Europa League playoffs game against Apollon Limassol FC at Tsirion Athlitiko Kentro in Cyprus on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hwang In-beom picked up his first goal in an Olympiacos shirt just 28 minutes into his first proper game with the club on Thursday, scoring a crucial equalizer in the first leg of a UEFA Europa League playoff against Cypriot side Apollon Limassol.

Hwang's goal came 10 minutes after Olympiacos went down 1-0, courtesy of an early opener from Rangelo Janga. Hwang returned the favor, picking up a cross from Oleg Reabciuk on the edge of the box and poking it between two defenders before rushing through himself to slide it past the defender into the bottom left corner.

The result, at Apollon's home stadium in Cyprus, puts the two sides back on a level playing field ahead of the second leg next week. The overall winner will advance to the group stage.

Hwang, who joined Olympiacos over the summer, is yet to get his first taste of the Greek Super League, which starts this weekend. Olympiacos will play their first game against Giannina on Sunday.

Hwang started his career with Daejeon Citizen in the K League and stayed with the club as they were immediately relegated to the K League 2. He joined the Whitecaps in 2019 and spent a year playing in the United States before moving to Rubin Kazan in Russia. His career in Russia came to an abrupt end earlier this year, forcing him back to Seoul, where he played for just over three months before moving to Olympiacos.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]