By Pearse McLaughlin
It is the K-League All Stars who emerge victorious in this year’s Coupang Play Series 2023 here at the Seoul World Cup Stadium by defeating Atletico Madrid 3-2. An historic comeback saw the K-League All Stars score 2 goals in the last 5 minutes to grab victory against the La Liga Giants.
Breakthrough for the away side on the 13th minute courtesy of World Cup winner Thomas Lemar. It was a devastating counterattack by Diego Simeone’s men led by French duo Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar. It started with Thomas Lemar on the halfway line as he picked up a loose ball drove with the ball before waiting for the overlapping run down the right from Antoine Griezmann whose shot was saved brilliantly by Lee Chang-Geun, but it rebounded to Thomas Lemar who smashed his powerful volley into the ground and went into the right-hand corner. Emphatic finish. 1-0 Atletico Madrid.
A double chance fell the way of Samuel Lino and Alvaro Morata on the 20th minute as Atletico Madrid push for a second goal. Samuel Lino fired a fierce shot at the near post on his weaker right foot as he chopped inside at the angle of the box on the left-hand side. The resulting corner was an out swinging one off the boot of Antoine Griezmann which found the forehead of Alvaro Morata who crashed his header off the crossbar and hurt the back of the Lee Chang-Geun and behind. Extremely fortunate for the K-League All Stars that Morata’s header didn’t bounce off the Lee Chang-Geun and into the back of the net.
A few minutes later and Atleti captain, Koke played a lovely forward pass into the feet of the talismanic figure that is Antoinne Griezmann who found himself isolated against Kim Young-Gwon before trying to pick his spot in the bottom right-hand corner, but it crashed off the inside of the right-hand post and cleared away to safety. Another terrific opportunity for Atletico Madrid to double their advantage over the K-League All Stars. Atletico really starting to turn the screw as they are showing why they are a top European side. It remains 1-0 though as the All Stars are clinging on.
An in-swinging corner this time from Antoinne Griezmann on the 36th minute as he picks out Mario Hermoso brilliantly, but he directed straight down the throat of Lee Chang-Geun. It was a brilliant reactive save from Lee Chang-Geun to deny Mario Hermoso as he managed to generate a lot of power behind his header. Anywhere other than the centre of the goal and it would have been a goal.
Five minutes before the break sees Samuel Lino test Lee Chang-Geun with a point-blank header inside the box which he is equal to. Samuel Lino plays a ball into the centre of the “D” from the left flank before spinning in behind for the one two with Rodrigo De Paul. De Paul took a touch before scooping the ball over the entire defence of the K-League All Stars and perfectly in the path for Samuel Lino who planted a header destined for the far corner only for Lee Chang-Geun to show cat like reflexes and claw it away. Lee Chang-Geun is having an inspired game to keep the K-League All Stars in the game otherwise it would be a cricket score.
The first meaningful chance for the K-League All Stars came a minute before the break and courtesy of Suwon FC’s Lee Seung-Woo collected the ball on the edge of the box before shifting the ball on to his favoured right foot and smashing the ball into the side netting. It had some sections cheering as it did look as if it snuck in at the near post. Better from the K-League All Stars.
It is Atletico Madrid who lead 1-0 at the break courtesy of an early goal from Thomas Lemar. Even after that Atletico Madrid have had countless opportunities to kill the game off with Alvaro Morata hitting the crossbar with a header as well as scoring 2 offside goals which they were. Griezmann also hit the post too. Lee Chang-Geun has also made countless saves to deny Samuel Lino on a couple of occasions. But it does only remain 1-0 and K-League All Stars will have to offer more going forward as Atletico Madrid have been comfortable at times.
Fans were also treated to a live performance from K-Pop girl group G-Idle who performed their latest single, “…I Do” as well as their hit song, “Tomboy”. The performance from girl group was sensational as they sang, danced, and performed brilliantly as they had the crowd and Atletico Madrid substitutes all in awe. Only in South Korea can you get international superstars performing a half time show during a football match.
Just five minutes after the restart and the home side are level courtesy of a header by Anton Krivotsyuk. It was a terrific ball into the box by Daegu FC’s Brazilian playmaker Cesinha as his in swinging free kick just inside the Atletico Madrid half was weighted to perfection as it landed on the head of Anton Krivotsyuk who headed it into the bottom right-hand corner. Although a horrible mistake from Antonio Gomis as he tried to come and punch the ball but got nowhere near it and made Anton Krivotsyuk’s task that much simpler as all he had to do was guide his header on target. 1-1 game on. Substitutes have given the K-League All Stars an impetuous to go and hurt this Atleti back line.
Another glorious opportunity from the K-League All Stars on the hour mark and this time it is Zeca who gets on the end of Hwang Jae-Won’s cross from the right-hand side which was weighted perfectly into the centre of the six-yard-box and Zeca rose highest to meet the cross but couldn’t keep his effort down. Absolute sitter from the big man as he should be hitting the target from there. Big opportunity squandered. It remains 1-1.
Ten minutes later and an in-swinging corner from the left-hand side by Cesinha is met at the near post by his fellow Brazilian Reis who diverts his header towards the bottom left-hand corner, but Antonio Gomis gets down well and collects the ball. Another chance for the home side who are really causing the La Liga giants some serious problems.
First moment of real quality of the second half for Atletico Madrid came on the 85th minute as Captain, Angel Correa finds a pocket of space inside the box before driving to the by-line and squaring the ball across to Carlos Martin who had the simple task of tapping the ball home. 2-1 Atletico Madrid.
A minute from time, the lively Gerso Fernandes who has caused the back line of Atletico Madrid all sorts of problems since he came on at the interval was clipped by Santiago Mourino inside the box as he raced clear. Palocevic steps up to take the resulting penalty and coolly rolls the ball into the bottom right hand corner sending Antonio Gomis the wrong way in the process. Instant response from the K-League All Stars. 2-2.
Absolute bedlam inside the Seoul World Cup Stadium as the K-League All Stars have snatched victory in the 4th minute of added time as Lee Soon-Min has finessed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from the layoff of Gerso Fernandes. Lee Soon-Min has completed an historic comeback for the K-League All Stars. What a finish from the Gwangju FC captain, Lee Soon-Min as he just guided the ball into the bottom right corner. A cultured finish. It finishes 3-2 to the K-League All Stars.
It was a game of two halves. Atletico Madrid had the K-League All Stars pinned back for the majority of the first half and could have and should have been out of sight. But they failed to kill off the opposition and with a raft of changes the second half was a different ball game. K-League All Stars dominated the second half for large spells and had Atletico Madrid very deep inside their own half trying to nullify their attacking threats. The manner of the comeback makes it that much sweeter having gone behind 2-1 in the 85th minute only for Palocevic to equalise from the spot 4 minutes later and with virtually the last kick of the game Lee Soon-Min clinches victory. An entertaining match that had everything and an absolute joy to watch and report on.
K-League All Stars: Lee Chang-Geun (Cho Hyun-Woo 46’), Seol Young-Woo, Jeong Tae-Wook (Reis 64’), Kim Young-Gwon (Alexander Grant 46’), Lee Ki-Jee (Anton Krivotsyuk 46’), Han Kook-Young (Hwang Jae-Won 54’), Paik Seung-Ho (Lee Soon-Min 46’), Na Sang-Ho (Aleksandar Palocevic 54’), Bae Joon-Ho (Cesinha 46’), Lee Seung-Woo (Gerso Fernandes 46’), Joo Min-Kyu (Zeca 46’).
Atletico Madrid: Grbic (Gomis 46’), Savic (Martin 46’), Witsel (Soyuncu 46’), Hermoso (Kostis 46’), Azpilicueta (Mourino 46’), De Paul (Barrios 46’), Koke (Gismera 46’), Lemar (Saul 46’), Samuel Lino (Galan 46’), Griezmann (Riquelme 46’), Morata (Correa 46’).
Subs not used: Oblak, Carrasco, Llorente, Depay, Felix.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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