The Nottingham Forest loan export started on the bench for South Korea but replaced Cho Gue-sung after 65 minutes and scored a goal just three minutes later during the team’s qualifying match for the 2026 tournament in North America. The goal came from a penalty kick, which was calmly rolled into the net by Hwang after Seol Young-woo was brought down in the box. Gue-sung had opened the scoring in the 44th minute, before Hwang Hee-chan and Son Heung-min added two more goals. South Korea’s victory over Singapore put them at the top of Group C in the Asian qualifiers.
Hwang had previously scored his first goal for Norwich City last month, and has made 12 appearances for the team so far, registering one goal and one assist after moving to Carrow Road on transfer deadline day. Christos Tzolis, another loan export, was also on the scoresheet for his country, Greece under-21 side, in their 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands. Tzolis coolly slotted the ball under the goalkeeper to break the deadlock, before Georgios Koutsias and Nikos Zouglis added two more goals.
Tzolis has been in fine form since joining Fortuna Dusseldorf temporarily this summer, scoring eight goals and making two assists in 13 games. The German club has the option to sign him permanently this summer, which would earn City some of the £9 million they spent to sign him from PAOK in 2021. Despite his strong performance for the Greek under-21 side, Tzolis was replaced in the 86th minute of the game.
Overall, both Hwang and Tzolis have been performing well for their respective national and club teams, and their successes will likely benefit their parent clubs in the future.
