Hwang Hee-chan scores crucial equalizer in FA Cup draw with Liverpool

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during an FA Cup match against Liverpool at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

After 10 painful months in Wolverhampton, England, Hwang Hee-chan has finally snapped his long scoreless streak. And he did it in style — scoring the crucial equalizer in a third round FA Cup tie with Liverpool.

Hwang's 66th-minute goal tied the score at 2-2, tying things up and forcing the reigning FA Cup champions to Molineux in Wolverhampton for a replay in the next few weeks.

Wolves opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a goal from Goncalo Guedes after a bizarre mistake from Liverpool goal Alisson, who essentially just passed the ball straight to the waiting striker.

Darwin Nunez tied things up in the 45th minute and Mo Salah struck in the 52nd to put the home side ahead, but it didn't last long.

Hwang, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, got his chance 14 minutes later, again starting with another Liverpool mistake. A poor clearance from Ibrahima Konate allowed Nathan Collins to head the ball back up the pitch. It found Hwang on the edge of the 18-yard box, and a tidy one-two with Santos Matheus Cunha allowed him to pass the defender and send the ball past Alisson.

The goal was the final score on the board, leaving Liverpool with a chance to salvage their shot at an FA Cup title defense. Wolves, however, leave Liverpool with a bitter taste in their mouths after an 82nd-minute Toti Gomes goal was disallowed for an offside in the build-up that neither the players on the pitch or the TV-watching audience could see any evidence of.

The resulting furor saw Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui booked and did nothing to overturn the decision, leaving the score at 2-2 and a rematch to be played.

Despite the stress of the final few minutes, the one man who likely will have been breathing a sigh of relief on the bus back to Wolverhampton is Hwang, who had finally broken a dry spell with the club that has lasted since Feb. 24, 2022.

Lopetegui's arrival at Wolves has been a big boost for Hwang, who has now appeared in all five games since the Spaniard took the helm at the end of November. He was directly involved in both goals against Gillingham in the Carabao Cup on Dec. 20, and has now added one of his own in the FA Cup.

"For me, the most important thing about tonight is how we should be proud of our players," Lopetegui said after the game. "They showed themselves that they can play against any team. Liverpool is one of the best teams in the world, with the best squad and the best coach, so for us it was a very important test.

“But it was a pity because to win against Liverpool one time is very difficult and now we have to play another match against them, it’s going to be a very hard match and we have to be ready for the second round."

Hwang's next challenge will be to return to his former Premier League form. But before Wolves return to the league with a game against West Ham on Jan. 14, there's another cup game to take care of — Wolves face Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

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