Second Korean Premier Leaguer Emerges

“I waited six years to get here. I am hungry beyond words. I can hardly bear my thirst.”

Seol Ki-hyeon (age: 27, Reading FC) has been stirring up a storm, ever since he first set his foot in the English Premier League. With his unhesitating dribbles and sharp crosses, he creates goals.

Just four minutes into the first half of the away game against Aston Villa that took place in Villa Park, Birmingham on Thursday, Seol charged by the defense from the right touch line and launched an exquisite left-foot cross. The ball found Kevin Doyle, who was standing left of the goal area. Doyle headed the ball and it became the first goal.

Seol earned offensive points in two consecutive matches after making his premier league debut.

The sports channel “Sky Sports” gave Seol nine points for his performance against Middlesbrough and this time it gave Seol eight points – the highest between the two teams. Reading suffered a reversal and lost the game 1-2 after the defender Ibrahim Sonko was sent off the field in the 34th minute.

The Mirror magazine wrote, “Seol, who made two goals in the opening match, made another goal. It’s a great start. His cross was perfect.”

Commentator Han Jun-hee of KBS said, “For a player who struggled in the second leagues in Belgium and England, the premier league is the chance of a lifetime to show his strength. This is why his spirits are higher than ever. He analyzed that Seol is “hungry” like Guss Hiddink once said.

Commentator Han forecasted that Seol would not tire easily even after the league progresses, because he is already accustomed to the busy schedule of the English league.

Head Coach Steve Coppell of Reading FC also complimented him, saying, “Seol is ready not only technically, but also physically.”

Now that Seol’s existence is known, opposing defenders will better prepare for him and mark him fiercely. Overcoming this will be the greatest challenge.

Park Ji-sung of Manchester United also started for his team, but he left a bit more to hope for in the final minutes.

In the first 22nd minute after rushing to the goal and attempting a heading shot, Park attempted a powerful shot in a one on one situation with the goalkeeper a minute after, but was blocked by the goalkeeper. In the 58th minute, he attempted a beautifully launched kick from the right that met the goalpost, after receiving a cross from Cristiano Ronaldo. Fortunately, in the 49th minute, Darren Fletcher turned Park’s cross into the first goal after a blunder by the defender.

Manchester grabbed its second consecutive win 3-0, thanks to goals by Louis Saha and Gunnar Solskjær.

jaeyuna@donga.com