By Cho Mu-hyun
Lee Dong-gook and Seol Ki-hyeon will lead their teams’ attacks in the K-League Championship decider between the Jeonbuk Motors and Ulsan Tigers.
As the top scorers for their sides, it remains to be seen which seasoned professionals will outperform the other in the two-leg final. The first leg will be played in Ulsan Wednesday.
The two 32-year-olds are both well known for their contribution to the development of Korean football, but they have had different fortunes in their careers.
Jeonbuk’s Lee made a name for himself after his contribution against the Netherlands, despite Korea losing 5-0, in the 1998 France World Cup, instantly rising to football stardom and being dubbed the “Lion King.”
But his post-tournament performances were a huge disappointment. He played for German team Bremen in 2001 but lasted only a couple of months, and was removed from the national squad for the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup just before the competition started.
Lee’s struggles continued when a knee injury prevented him from taking any part in the Germany World Cup four years later. He then failed to score a single league goal for English Premier League outfit Middleborough after moving there in 2007. He was selected for the Korea team for the 2010 South Africa World Cup but again could not find the net.
But Lee has fared much better in recent domestic games, becoming the K-Leagues’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2009 and excelling in recent fixtures.
In marked contrast, “Sniper” Seol has received calls from multiple foreign clubs, joining Belgium’s Antwerp in 2000 and Anderlecht a year later before playing for England’s Wolverhampton Wanderers, Reading and Fulham.
Seol’s value rose further after he scored the game-saving equalizer against Italy in the 2002 World Cup. His performance in Germany in 2006 was solid as well.
A decline in form forced him to head to the K-League, being signed by the Pohang Steelers last year but ended the season with a mere seven goals and three assists.
But the veteran is on the rise again this year, contributing one goal and two assists during this month’s playoffs for his current team Ulsan Tigers.
“We know each other well. Lee Dong-gook is showing outstanding goal sense right now and I think we will have a great match,”Seol said in anticipation of Wednesday’s game.
Ulsan failed to beat Jeonbuk this year, but Seol intends to change that. “I want to win against Jeonbuk, not because they have Lee, but because they have remained undefeated by us this year. I have a strong desire for victory in the championship game.”