Strikers Ahn, Lee Each Score Twice for New Teams

Korean soccer striker Ahn Jung-hwan of China’s Dalian Shide and compatriot Lee Keun-ho of Japan’s Jubilo Iwata each scored two goals to lead their teams to victory over the weekend.

In a 3-1 home win over Hangzhou Lucheng, Ahn broke out of a long slump. He scored the first goal of the game, firing home a penalty kick in the 30th minute. In the 84th minute, he lobbed the ball into the net with his left foot.

In an interview with Chinese media, Ahn said he was playing at 80 percent and that he will get himself to full condition to make great contributions to his team.

For Lee, who had sought a move to Europe but eventually settled for Japan, he scored in the 55th and 73rd minute in his home debut against Shimizu S-Pulse.

Lee disappointed in the national team’s 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over North Korea April 1, but his renewed play could add power to South Korea when it faces the United Arab Emirates in June in another qualifier.

niceshin@donga.com