Hwang Ui-jo gets first assist for Olympiacos

Hwang Ui-jo

Hwang Ui-jo picked up his first assist in his second appearance in the Greek Super League, setting up Pep Biel as Olympiacos beat Ionikos 3-1 at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus on Saturday.

Both Hwang Ui-jo and Hwang In-beom started for Olympiacos, with Hwang Ui-jo substituted in the 60th minute and Hwang In-beom playing the full 90. Olympiacos' other goals came from Andreas Bouchalakis and Youssef El-Arabi.

Both Hwangs debuted in the Greek Super League last week. Hwang Ui-jo signed with Premier League club Nottingham Forest FC on Aug. 27 and was immediately loaned to Olympiacos. He is expected to stay with the Greek club for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Hwang Ui-jo's loan reunites him with his national teammate Hwang In-beom, who inked a deal with the Greek club in July.

Both players have now contributed offensively for Olympiacos, with Hwang In-beom scoring a crucial equalizer in the first leg of a UEFA Europa League playoff against Cypriot side Apollon Limassol last month. Olympiacos eventually went on to win the second leg 3-1 on penalties on Aug 26 and advanced to the group stage.

In both Greek Super League games so far this season, Hwang Ui-jo and Hwang In-beom have connected well, showing that their experience playing together on the Korean national team translates well to the new environment. Hopefully that works both ways, as the pair are practically guaranteed to appeal together for the national team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup later this year.

Olympiacos have a busy week ahead of them as they start their proper Europa League campaign on Thursday with a game against French club Nantes, a team Hwang Ui-jo is familiar with from his time playing in France's Ligue 1. After that fixture, Olympiacos will be back in action in the Super League on Sunday with a game against Volos.

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