Lion King’s Long-Awaited First Goal

South Korean striker, Lion King Lee Dong-guk (Middlesbrough) has scored his first goal, but he is yet to secure his place in the team.

The 28-year-old striker scored the second goal in Middlesbrough’s Carling Cup second round match – a 2-0 win against Northampton yesterday; Lee played the whole match. The Carling Cup is a soccer event entered by 90 teams from the first (premier) to fourth division.

Middlesbrough changed six players from its team which took on Newcastle United earlier in the day, giving a chance for those who had not been selected to play in previous games.

Alongside Tuncay Sanli, Lee played in the front line. In the 53rd minute, Fabio Rochemback lashed a low free kick that found the edge of the net to put Boro ahead. In the 66 minute, Lee sealed the deal when he fired home a Stewart Downing cross from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.

Lee, who signed with Middlesbrough in January this year, bagged his long-awaited first goal after 15 matches. He played 11 games, including last season’s nine premier league matches and two FA matches and in this season; he played three games from interchange, but failed to score a goal. It was the first time he played out the entire game in a first division match. It is a great success for Lee to have proven his ability as a striker with his first goal.

There are, however, obstacles that lie in Lee’s path. He is competing with Jeremie Aliadiere, Mido, and Sanli for the striker position. Moreover, Middlesbrough is looking to recruit striker Georgi Samaras of Manchester City. After the game, Middlesbrough assistant manager Malcom Crosby said,” We are interested in two or three players including Georgios Samaras.” Though Lee stuck his first goal, he is yet to cement his place in the team as competition grows fiercer.

bluesky@donga.com