“Real Samsung” Wins Hauzen Cup

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings (SSB) became the champion of the 2005 Samsung Hauzen Cup.

The SSB defeated Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, 1-0, owing to the winning goal scored by “a nimble player” Kim Dae-eui at its final match held in Suwon World Cup Stadium on May 8.

The SSB finally took the championship cup with 25 winning points, two points ahead of runner-up team Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (points: 23), which won its last game against Daejeon Citizen, 2-1 at the same day.

Accordingly, the SSB accomplished a monumental record of winning a championship four times in a row, from the 2004 K-League through the A3 Champions Cup 2005, the Super Cup, and the 2005 Samsung Hauzen Cup.

Sandro, a Brazilian player of Daegu FC, scored 7 goals overall to become the top scorer of the competition, and Cezar of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won the top assist title with five assists.

Kim Dae-eui exquisitely kicked a ball from the right side of the goal area to score the winning goal, from which the SSB could enjoy the pleasure of the dramatic victory to the full; The SSB could have won the victory even if the last game had ended in a tie.

The first man-to-man match between “soccer genius” Park Joo-young (20, FC Seoul) and the “crown prince of Jo Bonfrere” Lee Dong-guk (26, Pohang Steelers) was not concluded.

The match was unfortunate to Park. He dashed into the right side of the penalty arc with the ball from midfield 15 minutes after the second half began to gain a penalty, a golden chance to contribute to his team’s victory and become the top scorer from a fault committed by Oh Beom-suk of the Pohang Steelers.

However, “a Tail-Shaped Hair,” veteran goalkeeper Kim Byeong-ji (35) stopped Park. Park shot toward the left corner of the net with a right-foot inside kick, but Kim easily pushed it away.

Lee Dong-guk made efforts to score a goal as a forefront striker with active and broad movements, but it was in vain. The game between Seoul and Pohang was drawn 0-0.

Interest in the man-to-man match between Park and Lee was still high. At that day, Seoul World Cup Stadium recorded the largest attendance in 2005 with an attendance of 44,137 spectators, the third large attendance of all time.

In “the tailender,” Busan won its final match against Daegu FC 2-1 owing to a goal and an assist by Park Seong-bae, ending the competition with two wins. Incheon United FC thoroughly beat Chonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-0 due to three consecutive goals scored by Selmir, Seo Dong-won and Radoncic..

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com