Park Ji-sung scores goal in Einthoven

While Korean soccer players in the European leagues were poised to spend the Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) holiday without scoring a single goal, Park Ji-sung (PSV Einthoven), the eldest of those players, scored a goal at a match on the final day of the five-day holiday in Korea.

Park had one goal and one assist at a home game against AFC Ajax at the seventh round of the Dutch pro league Eredivisie on Sunday, enabling his team to secure a 4-0 win. With three-straight wins after the season opening but three consecutive draws afterwards, PSV Einthoven has secured its fourth win (three draws) of the season, to stand atop with 15 points overall.

As a full-time player for the first time since his transfer to the Dutch team, Park scored his second goal of the season at the 23rd minute of the second half, when his team was leading 3-0. Upon getting a header pass from his teammate Tim Matavz, Park single-handedly dribbled the ball around 30 meters to reach the penalty area, and shot the ball with his right foot in composure at a one-on-one faceoff with the goalie. He capped the scoring through the right hand-side corner of the goal. At the 19th minute of the second half, Park also assisted Oskar Hiljemark to score with his precise cross from the right hand side of the penalty area to record his first assist of this season.

After the match, his teammates gave a flurry of compliments on Park. Ola Toivonen said, “Our team’s performance improved in the second half, and Park Ji-sung was the key player in the second half.” PSV Einthoven had all the four goals scored in the second half en masse. Stijn Schaars said, “We could play the game conveniently thanks to Park Ji-sung who nicely guided young players,” in lauding Park. Despite such compliments, Park gave credit to Jetro Willems, who earned his team the second goal,” saying, “The second goal was an important score in today’s match.”