[Soccer] United’s Park Scores 1st in Nearly a Year

Soccer star Park Ji-sung of Manchester United rose the highest to head home a Paul Scholes right cross in front of two defenders. His rare header for a score gave Fulham goalie Antti Niemi no chance to block it.

In United’s 3-0 win Saturday, Park’s goal at Craven Cottage was his first in 335 days and first since his injury on April 1 last year after scoring and assisting one goal at the Blackburn Rovers.

His comeback began against Sunderland on Dec. 26 last year, and he has since played in six English Premier League and two FA Cup matches.

“I’m so happy to score the goal,” Park said after the game. “I really needed it because scoring gives the team great confidence.”

For Park, his score was all the more meaningful after his long absence due to injury, which cut short a promising season last year when he scored five goals. Some had said his benching for the past two weeks would drop him from United’s pecking order.

United Coach Alex Ferguson said, “Ji-sung’s scoring a goal killed Fulham really. It was a good goal from Ji-sung, his first of the year, so we’re pleased with that.”

As a side attacker, Park was outstanding in attack and defense, assisting the first and third goal indirectly. Skysports gave him a rating of seven points, adding the comment “finishing a goal.”

His goal was the seventh of his Premier League career. More importantly, United (64 points) closed to within one point of league leader Arsenal (65), which was held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa 1-1 on the same day.

yjongk@donga.com