Player Ratings: Team K League
Team K League came from behind twice to beat a star-studded Atletico Madrid side 3-2 in Seoul this evening. Second-half goals from Anton Kryvostsyuk, Aleksander Palocevic, and Lee Soon-min sent the 59,000 fans home happy.
This really was a game of two halves. Atletico Madrid dominated the opening period and could (maybe should) have been at least 2 goals clear. But Team K League hung in there and noticeably upped the tempo in the second half to claim a deserved victory.
These are our player ratings.
First half
Lee Chang-geun 9
In the first half, Atletico hit the woodwork three times and had three goals chalked off for offside, and yet Daejeon's goalkeeper came out with his reputation enhanced. He could do nothing to prevent Atletico's opener. Outstanding display.
Lee Ki-jae 7
Suwon's left back saw plenty of the ball down the left flank and teed up Joo Min-kyu with a beautiful through ball almost producing a quick response to Lemar's opener. Blasted a free kick into the wall from a promising position. Solid.
Jeong Tae-wook 7
Man mountain. Asked to return for the second half, Jeong formed part of a back-line left to mop up too often as the midfield got totally overrun in the opening half. He made one important aerial challenge before almost starting a fight with Alvaro Morata.
Kim Young-gwon 6
Like his center partner, Kim struggled to deal with the speed of Atlético's attack but he found time to deliver a sumptuous ball to Lee Seung-ho midway through the first half. Put his team under pressure with wayward clearances.
Seol Young-woo 7
Team K League looked to open Atletico up down the left meaning Seol didn't feature as regularly as Lee Ki-jae. However, the Ulsan defender was asked to play 90 grueling minutes after Timo pulled out. He was much more comfortable after the break.
Paik Seung-ho 5
One sloppy pass in midfield nearly led to an early goal and unfortunately, like his partners, Paik found the going tough against opposition of this standard. Wasn't able to influence games like he does for Jeonbuk.
Han Kook-young 6
Han was one of four players to stay on into the second half. The Gangwon midfielder grew into the game as it wore on and I'm sure he was delighted to be on when Team K League equalized.
Bae Jun-ho 5
The Daejeon starlet will remember this game for a long time. Naturally, the opposition was a major step up in class and it was reflected in some of his decision-making. He was chasing shadows at times. Bae was sloppy in possession but he did start against an experienced Atleti team.
Na Sang-ho 6
Stayed on in the second half and was given a deserved applause when substituted. Knackered at the end. Danced around some Atletico defenders early on, but snatched at his shot. Won the free kick that was hit into the wall by Lee Ki-jae.
Lee Seung-woo 7
In a difficult half, Lee posed a threat drifting across the front line. Had a great chance on 15 minutes but delayed his shot, allowing a perfect last-second block. Later in the half, he found space on the right but could only hit the side netting from 20 yards. A strong crowd favorite.
Joo Min-kyu 6
Heavily involved early on and will have enjoyed his tussle with the Atletico defenders. Had Team K League's first opportunity, blasting over from the edge of the penalty area. Saw less ball as the half wore on but the big man will be pleased with his effort.
Second half
Jo Hyeon-woo 6
Didn't have the same impact as Lee in the first half, who was left to perform miracles, but the Ulsan keeper was composed throughout. One minor fault was his distribution, launching a ball straight out of play when Gerso Fernandes was clear. Not at fault for the second goal.
Alex Grant 7
Grant's task was made easier by the half-time withdrawals of Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, and Alvaro Morata. It would have been great to see Grant face that trio Still, he was strong at the back and his cultured left peg was always a threat.
Anton Kryvostsyuk 8
The man who scored a goal against Atletico Madrid. Met Cesinha's wonderful delivery, heading home with the back of his head. And he certainly enjoyed it. Defensively he was rock solid, although the Atletico team after the break wasn't as strong as the team in the first period.
Hwang Jae-won 6
Quiet but reasonably assured. Set up Zeca with a fine cross on the hour. The second Atletico goal came down that right side, where they carved Team K League open. The second-half comeback was built on a good defense as well as a strong attack.
Lee Soon-min 8
Brilliant finish deep into added time sealed the deal for Team K League. Opened his body and placed his first-time shot away from the keeper into the bottom left-hand corner. Lee is a tidy footballer and looks more than capable of playing at this level.
Cesinha 7
Cesinha collected the most votes in the fan selection and there was a noticeable buzz in the air when he got the ball. Incredible delivery for Anton's goal, dropping the ball into the 6-yard box. Daegu's star was a constant threat to the visitors but will probably be disappointed when his big opportunity in the second half was dragged wide.
Aleksander Palocevic 7
Wasn't as influential as some of the other second-half substitutes, but Seoul's Palo expertly dispatched his equalizing penalty late on. His set pieces were a threat and he looked to get on the ball often against a tiring Atletico side.
Isnairo Reis 7
Reis got close 30 minutes. He was busy throughout, linking up well with Cesinha and Palocevic. Had a couple of half chances but crucially caused opponents a lot of problems. Looked like he lost his man for the second Atletico goal, but his teammates were opened up down the right in the build-up.
Gerso Fernandez 9
Gerso is absolutely perfect for games like this. He turned Atletico defenders inside out and had the home fans on the edge of their seats. For a tired and possibly jetlagged Atletico team starting their pre-season, Gerso is a nightmare to deal with. Won the penalty that tied the game, and his layoff set up the third.
Zeca 7
A constant threat up front. Zeca flashed a header over midway through the half but was generally busy and abrasive. Formed part of a really dangerous attacking unit for Team K League.
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