Ahn Jung-hwan successfully avenged his previous defeat against Lim Young-woong.
On the October 19th episode of JTBC's popular sports variety show 'Kick a Goal 4' (directed by Seong Chi-kyung, written by Mo Eun-seol), Ahn Jung-hwan's revenge match against Lim Young-woong's 'Returns FC' was featured. Last year, Ahn's team suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat. However, in this episode, the 'Fantasy All-Stars,' a team composed of top players from the 'Fantasy League,' triumphed over 'Returns FC' with a 3-1 victory. The intense match captured viewers' attention, achieving a 3.6% viewership rating nationwide among paid households, securing the top spot among non-terrestrial channels in the same time slot.
Recalling the humiliation of last year's 4-0 loss, Ahn Jung-hwan revealed his true motivation for the rematch, saying, "I'm still paying off the credit card bill from the team dinner after that match. I thought Lim Young-woong would offer to pay half, but he didn't, which was quite disappointing." Lim Young-woong responded, "A match is a match," indicating another fierce competition was on the horizon.
Lim Young-woong's 'Returns FC,' known as the strongest team in the amateur soccer scene, faced off against Ahn Jung-hwan's 'Fantasy All-Stars,' a team assembled with ace players from the 'Fantasy League.' The lineup included legendary players like Shin Woo-jae and Lee Chan-hyung in midfield, and Guevara and Lee Shin-ki in attack, creating a dream team only seen in all-star matches. Even Lim Young-woong acknowledged, "They are stronger than last year."
In the early stages of the match, Lee Shin-ki of 'Fantasy All-Stars' urged his teammates, "For the first five minutes, don't think of it as soccer," emphasizing aggressive pressure. Despite this, 'Returns FC' maintained possession with impressive ball control and crosses, earning admiration from 'Fantasy All-Stars' coaches Ahn Jung-hwan, Kim Nam-il, and Lee Dong-gook.
During a fierce battle, Lee Shin-ki scored with a lucky 'abdominal shot' after a rebound from the goalkeeper, leaving 'Fantasy All-Stars' celebrating and 'Returns FC' visibly shaken.
Lim Young-woong, known for his scoring prowess in the 'KA League,' continuously pressured the 'Fantasy All-Stars' goal with quick penetration and perfect positioning. However, Choi Jong-woo, who had allowed easy counterattacks last year, successfully blocked him this time, keeping a clean sheet.
The first half ended with a 1-0 lead for 'Fantasy All-Stars.' During halftime, Lim Young-woong focused on the coaches' instructions and encouraged his teammates, reminding them to maintain a winning mentality.
As the second half began, an invigorated Lim Young-woong continued to press for goals. His shot, which bypassed goalkeeper Song Ha-bin, was dramatically blocked by Lee Dae-hoon, known as 'Hoon Gil-dong,' in front of the goal, surprising everyone. Despite multiple attempts, the equalizing goal remained elusive.
Amidst 'Returns FC's strong pressure, 'Fantasy All-Stars' midfield core Shin Woo-jae was substituted due to injury. However, Han Seung-woo, who was brought in, calmly converted Lee Shin-ki's cutback into a goal, extending the lead. Lim Young-woong responded with a non-stop pass that led to Jung Ji-hoon's goal, sparking a comeback.
With just one minute left in the match, Ryu Eun-kyu sealed the victory with a decisive goal, confirming 'Fantasy All-Stars' 3-1 win over 'Returns FC.' Lim Young-woong graciously acknowledged the defeat, saying, "We faced a very well-prepared team," while Ahn Jung-hwan, having avenged last year's humiliation, proposed a new match to determine the true winner, stating, "The total record is 1:1."
Lim Young-woong readily accepted, promising, "If given the chance, I'll come for the final match," heightening anticipation for the next showdown. The 'Fantasy All-Stars' impressive victory against the formidable 'Returns FC' has set the stage for more exciting battles in the 'Fantasy League.'
Meanwhile, JTBC's 'Kick a Goal 4' airs every Sunday at 7:10 PM.
Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr