Lee Chun-soo, “Things Will Turnout Well”

Lee Chun Soo (22, Real Sociedad), the first Korean player ever to pave a way to the Spanish professional league (Primera Liga), who was listed as a starting player, managed to play full time at a friendly match held ahead of the opening of the season.

Lee played, unexpectedly, as a starting player yesterday and played as the right wing and shadow striker for at the friendly match against Italian pro-team, Udinese, in Udine, Italia.

Lee passes several times to the two strikers in the forefront, Kovacevich and Nihat but they failed to make a goal. At the second half, he played the position of Nihat and proved his capability as a shadow striker.

No one could score a goal during the two halves and Real Sociedad lost the game by 1-3 lost in a shoot-out. Lee did not kick at in the shoot-out. “Although I injured my calf and my condition was bad, it was okay as a first match,” Lee said just after the match. “I am confident that I will score goals in the Primera Liga.

Real Sociedad showed a great interest on him, even posting pictures of Lee playing at the friendly match. Lee is likely to play a series of friendly matches against Allahil(Egypt) on August 16, Osasuna(Spain) on August 18, Malmu(Sweden) on August 20, and Inter Milan on August 23. The Primera Liga opens on September 1.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com