'Impact to Remain in History'Lee Kang-in exploded with the first goal of the opening of League 1 in 2024-2025 season, and the rating + evaluation was crazy

Aug 17, 2024

'It will go down in history forever'

There is a good reason why many clubs showed interest in the summer transfer market. Lee Kang-in (23) of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) showed tremendous impact from the opening game of the new season. He started and scored a thunderous first goal just three minutes after the kickoff whistle. With this, the phrase 'opening goal of the 2024-2025 season = Lee Kang-in' is inscribed on a page of League 1 history. It's an indelible record forever. Naturally, Lee Kang-in was given a good rating and praised by local media.

Lee Kang-in started the opening game of the 2024-2025 French League 1 against Le Havre AC at 3:45 a.m. on the 17th (Korean time). PSG's ace Kylian Mbappe left the team in the transfer window last summer. He eventually moved to Real Madrid, which was rumored to have been transferred for a long time. PSG coach Luis Enrique focused on filling Mbappe's void. And it seems that one of the solutions was found in the use of Lee Kang-in.

On this day, Lee Kang-in started as a right striker in the 4-3-3 formation. Coach Enrique's trust in Lee Kang-in is great. In fact, even during the pre-press conference, "We see our offensive line positivelyHe was the first to call Lee Kang-in's name among the strikers in the team.

Lee Kang-in responded to Enrique's trust with a wonderful goal. Three minutes into the game, a thunderous goal was scored. Lee Kang-in, who took over Gonzalo Hamus' pass from the right side of the penalty box, wasted no time firing a left-footed shot to swing the net. It was Lee Kang-in's first league goal in about five months since the match against Montpellier in March. Above all, it is significant that it was the first goal in the entire League 1 in the 2024-2025 season. This is because Lee Kang-in's position in the team is natural, and it is a record that can raise awareness across the league.

PSG, which had a chaotic atmosphere ahead of the opening of the season, gained confidence again thanks to Lee Kang-in's thunderous goal as Mbappe's transfer made it inevitable to lose his scoring ability. In the end, this goal served as an excuse, leading to a storm of goal celebration. In addition to Lee Kang-in, other strikers, including Usman Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Randal Colo Muany, scored three goals in the last five minutes of the second half. Thanks to this, PSG won the game 4-1. Lee Kang-in could have scored multiple goals. In the 15th minute of the second half, Hoshim's left foot shot hit the post and suffered bad luck. If this goal had been scored, Lee Kang-in could have received '10 out of 10 points'.

Even though he did not score multiple goals, Lee Kang-in's performance was not insufficient to draw favorable reviews in the region. European soccer statistics media Huscoordcom gave Lee Kang-in 7.52 points. It is the second highest score after João Neves (7.71) who was substituted in the second half. However, there is controversy over the low rating of Lee Kang-in, who started with two shots (effective shot 2), one key pass success, and one dribble success in 70 minutes compared to Neves, who has only two key passes with zero shooting numbers. In fact, it is safe to say that Lee Kang-in is the team's highest rating.

In fact, another statistical media outlet, Sofascore, gave Lee Kang-in a 7.7 rating and rated him the best in PSG. French media Foot Mercato also said of Lee Kang-in's performance on the same day that Lee Kang-in, who had been aiming for in the EPL, scored his first goal of the first season of the league. Frauded opposing goalkeeper Artur Desmas with a perfect pass from Hamus. He played well on the right side, and his multi-goal opportunity was canceled after being hit by the goal post.

With the goal at the fastest timing this season, Lee Kang-in's heyday seems to have opened wide.

Reporter Lee Won-man wman@sportschosun.com

wman@sportschosun.com

'Impact to Remain in History'Lee Kang-in exploded with the first goal of the opening of League 1 in 2024-2025 season, and the rating + evaluation was crazy

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