Park Chu-young Scores First Goal After Injury

FC Seoul frontman Park Chu-young, nicknamed by many Koreans “football genius,” netted his first goal after his injury comeback yesterday.

The match was against Busan I Park and was held in Seoul World Cup Stadium. When Lee Eul-yong passed the ball from the left penalty area, it hit the foot of his colleague before Park touched it into the net with his right foot in the central goal area. It was the fourth goal of the game for FC Seoul.

It has been six months and nine days since Park’s last goal at a match against Suwon Samsung in March 21, when he scored a hat trick.

There were concerns that it would take a while for Park to return to full condition after his injury, but his goal dismissed those concerns. The match was the third game after his comeback.

FC Seoul won a sweeping victory, 4-0, thanks to goals from Park, Lee Sang-hyup, Ricardo and Kim Dong-suk. The club now ranks fifth ahead of the Pohang Steelers after moving up two notches with 33 points.

“I would say he is yet to regain his full condition from seeing his movements or ball touching, but I will bring him to Syria anyway,” said Park Seong-hwa, the head coach of Korea’s Olympic soccer team, referring to the upcoming Olympic soccer qualifier match against Syria.

Meanwhile, Ulsan Hyundai beat Suwon Samsung, 2-0 in a Saturday game, thanks to the brilliant play of the “next big thing” Lee Sang-ho, stretching its unbeaten streak to 19 consecutive games. 19 straight is a new record for a K-league team. Ulsan stayed in the third place with 11 wins, 9 draws, and 3 defeats (42 points).

yjongk@donga.com