PSV Eindhoven to Play Korea University All Stars on July 13

“Soccer genius” Park Ju-young (or Park Chu-young, 20. FC Seoul) and Lee Young-pyo (28. PSV Eindhoven) will compete with good intentions.

It was confirmed on July 10 that a friendly match between the Dutch PSV Eindhoven club and Korea University’s professional all star team, which was promoted as one of the Korea University’s 100-year anniversary commemorative events, titled, “Korea University 100 Years, Sports 100 Years,” will be held at Incheon Munhak Stadium at 6:20 p.m. on July 13.

The match was initially planned to be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on July 12, but the time and venue of the match have changed, due to Eindhoven’s flight schedule and the 2005 Peace Cup Korea event.

PSV Eindhoven, led by coach Guus Hiddink, a hero for the Korea team’s milestone semi-final finish in the 2002 Korea and Japan World Cup, will compete against Korea University’s professional all-star team after coming to Korea on July 12 in order to participate in the Peace Cup, which kicks off on July 15.

Although the two sides will compete in a friendly game, PSV Eindhoven, which has advanced to the semi-final in the UEFA (Union of European Football Association) Champions League 2004-2005, and Korea University, bearing pride for Korea’s best university soccer team, are expected to have a fierce competition.

In particular, the offensive and defensive showdown between Korea’s best soccer player star, Park Ju-young (20) and Lee Young-pyo (28), who has joined the rank of world-class stars, is drawing the most attention. Park Ju-young is Korean soccer’s future, drawing a huge number of fans for his goal parade in K-league after joining in the national soccer team and youth team. Lee Young-pyo is the best defense player, who showed Korean spirit to the world, along with Park Ji-sung, who moved to the Manchester United.

Korea University’s professional all-star team, led by Suwon Samsung coach Cha Bum-kun, currently has 36 professional players, including Cha Doo-ri (Frankfurt), Lee Cheon-soo, Choi Seong-guk, and Kim Jeong-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Park Dong-hyuk (Jeonbuk), and Park Jin-sub (Songnam), and is only missing the “forever libero,” Hong Myung-bo.

PSV Eindhoven, despite transfer of Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), and Van Bommel (Barcelona), will compete against Korea University’s professional all-star team with its best members, including Dutch midfielder Philip Cocu, Brazilian goal keeper Gomes, and defensive player Alex.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com