Lee Chun-soo Almost Scores Debut Goal

It might have been his debut goal in the Spanish Primera League. Lee, instead, had to settle with setting up an equalizer in the season opening.

Lee Chun-soo set up an equalizing goal in the Primera season opener held at Monjuick Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain on Aug. 31. It was his first contribution to his team Real Sociedad entering the season.

Playing one of the 11 starters, Lee lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Lemmens after Sabbie Alonso`s heading and the ball ran into the right penalty area in the 55th minute. The team was trailed by 0-1. His teammate Darko Kovacevic, then, did a simple task of knocking the ball into the unguarded net.

Thinking he scored the goal, the Korean then took off his shirt to reveal a t-shirt bearing a message for the fans - the Korean message “Korean Football`s Pride” was accompanied by the Basque “Eskerrik Asko,” meaning “Thank you”. For that action, however, the referee showed Lee the yellow card.

“I thought I made the goal. I am all determined to score my first goal in the home match on Sept. 4,” said Lee after the game.

Some 3,000 Koreans visited the stadium and shouted “Dae-han-min-guk” meaning Korea, rooting for the Korean international. The game was a 1-1 draw and Lee was replaced by Paula in the 43rd minute.

Real`s coach Raynald Denoueix was also pleased with Lee`s performance, saying, “Lee did a very good job. He must have had hard times getting himself accustomed to life in Spain, still he is performing just fine.”

El Mundo, a sports paper in Real`s home base of San Sebastian, praised Lee`s “speed and mobility,” and his reaction “like a thunderbolt” to set up the equalizer. According to the paper, credit for the goals went to Lee with Real and Raul Tamudo with Espanyol.

Meantime, Koreans in the Japanese J-League were also in action. Kim Eun-jung with Sendai and Ahn Jung-hwan with Shimiz S Pearls each scored a goal.

Kim scored his J-League debut goal in an away match with Sereso Osaka in the 34th minute. The team, however, lost to the home team by 2-4.

Ahn, who decided to stay with Shimiz after tapping a deal with a Spanish club, led the team`s victory over Tokyo Berdi in the home match. The 41st minute-goal was Ahn`s fourth in the season.

JACGAR@telefonica.net