The highly anticipated penalty shootout finale between RISE and NCT WISH turned into an intense in-house battle for SM Entertainment.
On the September 7th broadcast of MBC's '2025 Chuseok Special Idol Star Athletics Championships,' RISE and NCT WISH faced off in the penalty shootout finals, showcasing a fierce competition within the SM Entertainment family.
RISE's Sungchan, Sohee, and Eunseok advanced to the finals by defeating Nowus 4-2 in the semifinals, while NCT WISH's Yushi, Sakuya, and Jaehui secured their spot by overcoming LUCY. Commentator Park Moon-sung remarked, "It's a final that came too soon," highlighting the excitement of the matchup.
RISE's Sungchan expressed, "It's an honor to stand on the final stage with friends from the same company. I hope for a good result." In response, NCT WISH's Jaehui playfully remarked, "I heard Eunseok's wrist isn't in good shape, so I'll go easy on him," to which RISE's Eunseok retorted, "That's not true. Even if you play normally, I think we'll win." The tension between the two teams heightened the atmosphere in the stadium.
As the penalty shootout commenced, the stadium was filled with tension. Both teams continued to score without missing, engaging in a fierce battle. NCT WISH's Sakuya attempted a psychological tactic by leaving the goal open and gesturing at RISE's Sohee, but Sohee calmly targeted the open space and scored, drawing laughter.
Eunseok then performed a similar move by leaving the goal open but quickly returned to guard it, allowing Jaehui to seize the opportunity and score. Sungchan feigned a right-side kick but delivered a powerful shot straight down the middle, surprising everyone.
However, in the latter part of the match, RISE's Sohee's fourth shot was blocked by Sakuya, leading to a missed opportunity. The fate of the match rested on NCT WISH's final kicker, Yushi, who confidently secured the victory by hitting the back of the net.
NCT WISH, praised by President Lee Jae-myung for their remarkable focus and composure, clinched the gold medal with a flawless performance. As the match concluded, RISE's Wonbin, Anton, and Shotaro rushed from the stands to console their team, while NCT WISH celebrated their victory with a group dance to their hit song 'Surf.'
The thrilling showdown between SM Entertainment's two boy groups captivated viewers with its intense and exhilarating finale.