Son Heung-min (right), captain of the national soccer team, on June 6 celebrates after scoring late in a 2-0 friendly win over Chile at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon. (Yonhap News)

By Jung Joo-ri and Lee Jihae

Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur), captain of the national soccer team, on June 6 celebrated his entry into the FIFA Century Club, or playing in his 100th game for his country, by scoring on a freekick.

He played front-line striker and wore the captain's armband in a friendly versus Chile at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon. Son thus became the 16th Korean to join the illustrious club 12 years after his first cap for his country in December 2010 in a game versus Syria. He started 83 of the 100 games and was captain in 31.

Korea was winning 1-0 when striker Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) was fouled near the arc circle in injury time right before the end of the game. Son scored his 32nd goal for Korea with the ensuing freekick, placing him sixth all time among Korean players in international games.

In a news conference right after the game, Son said, "I'm happy to celebrate my 100th match with a victory. I want to say thanks to my teammates," adding, "I didn't think of playing (in 100 international matches). I just tried my best each moment. Time really flies, so fast that I had no time to reflect."

Chile head coach Eduardo Berizzo after the match named Son as his choice for "most impressive player." "Son Heung-min is a player who can change a game by just being there," he said. "He's incredibly threatening when left one on one with a defender."

Korea's 2-0 win left the team's record against Chile at one win, one tie and one loss. Striker Hwang scored the opening goal in the 12th minute of the first half.

The Taegeuk Warriors on June 10 will host Paraguay at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do Province.

Son Heung-min on June 7 wrote on his Instagram, "I'm truly happy to receive so much congratulations on a very meaning day at a special venue," adding, "As a member of the national team, I consider it a great honor to play in my 100th game wearing the Taegeuk emblem and to have had many opportunities." (Screen capture from Son's Instagram account)