Koreans in Europe: Hong Hyun-seok scores as KAA Gent beat Eupen 2-0

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Koreans in Europe: Hong Hyun-seok scores as KAA Gent beat Eupen 2-0

Hong Hyun-seok, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in KAA Gent's 2-0 win over Eupen at the Kehrwegstadion in Eupen, Belgium on Sunday in a photo shared by the official KAA Gent X account.  [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hong Hyun-seok, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in KAA Gent's 2-0 win over Eupen at the Kehrwegstadion in Eupen, Belgium on Sunday in a photo shared by the official KAA Gent X account. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

 
Hong Hyun-seok scored his first goal since returning from the Asian Cup on Sunday, providing a 13th-minute opener in what would go on to be a 2-0 win for KAA Gent on the road at Eupen.
 
Hong opened the scoring early at the Kehrwegstadion in Eupen, Belgium, providing the opener while some fans were still finding their seats. Matisse Samoise added one more after the break to give the visitors a comfortable 2-0 win.
 

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With the win, Gent currently sit in fifth place on the 16-team Belgian Pro League, two points clear of Cercle Brugge who round out the top six that qualify for the Championship round. The Belgian league splits into a champions’ playoff and relegation playoff after matchday 30, which will fall in mid-March this year.
 
Eupen currently sit in 15th place and will have to fight to avoid relegation.
 
Hong, who became a fan favorite in Ghent after announcing his arrival in Belgium by scoring a bicycle kick in his first game back in 2022, has four goals and three assists this season. Typically a regular starter for the team, Hong has had to sit out nine games this season while on international duty: Five last year for the Asian Games and four this year for the Asian Cup.
 
Hong, 24, enjoyed an impressive debut season with Gent last season, scoring nine goals and picking up 11 assists across all competitions with Player and Goal of the Month honors thrown in the mix as well.
 
The appointment of the now-ousted Jurgen Klinsmann as the Korean national team coach also saw Hong begin to earn some national recognition, with the young midfielder earning his first international caps in June last year.
 
Gent will be back in action Wednesday as they take on Maccabi Haifa in the Europa Conference League, before returning to Pro League action on Sunday against Antwerp. Including that fixture, Gent have four league games left before the split.

BY JIM BULLEY [[email protected]]
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