Hong Hyun-seok's high-speed debut, Lee Jae-sung's equalizer starting point 'Very good performance'...Mainz plays Stuttgart 3-3 'Theatrical Draw'

Sep 01, 2024

Hong Hyun-seok made his high-speed Bundesliga debut. He started with Lee Jae-sung and Nahan, leading to a dramatic draw. Mainz had a 3-3 draw in the second round of the German Bundesliga in 2024-2025 season against Stuttgart at 10:30 p.m. on August 31 (Korean time) at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Mainz, who has drawn two games in a row since the opening, is 12th with two points. Stuttgart finished 15th with one draw and one loss. Photo capture = Mainz SNS

Hong Hyun-seok succeeded in making his high-speed Bundesliga debut. He started with Lee Jae-sung and Nahan, leading to a dramatic draw.

Mainz had a 3-3 draw in the second round of the German Bundesliga in 2024-2025 season against Stuttgart at 10:30 p.m. on August 31 (Korean time) at MHP Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Mainz, who has drawn two games in a row since the opening, is 12th with two points. Stuttgart finished 15th with one draw and one loss.

The eyes were on Hong Hyun-seok on this day. Mainz announced the recruitment of Hong Hyun-seok through the club's SNS on the 29th. Mainz, who announced his contract with a new player through SNS from the previous day, drew attention by revealing the recruitment of Hong Hyun-seok by utilizing the image of the worldwide popular Netflix series 'Squid Game'. The terms of the contract were not disclosed, but according to European media, the transfer fee is 6 million euros (about 8.9 billion won) and the contract period is four years. The number was 14.

Hong Hyun-seok was initially likely to go to Trabzonspor in Turkiye. An official familiar with the European market said on the 29th that `"Travezonspor offered Hong a considerable amount of salary, and I understand that the player was a little bit affected by it. The Turkiye League also has a lower tax rate than the average Western European country.'

In the middle of this month, Hong Hyun-seok's transfer to Trabzonspor from Turkiye has emerged as a strong possibility. Credible reporters and media from Belgium and Turkiye rushed to report Hong Hyun-seok's transfer. Rumors spread that Hong Hyun-suk, who has a year left on his contract with Hent, will leave on the condition of a four-year contract with a transfer fee of 4 million euros.

Hong Hyun-seok took the mound himself and asked him to go because he wanted to go when public opinion arose among fans that he was pushed by the agent and went to the Turkiye League at a young age. "The one who asked not to go to the agent type..." he wrote on social media. It was the de facto Trabzonspor transfer 'self-official'. It was also a clear transfer sign that Hent was excluded from the league game entry on the 19th. Manager Thurr Franken Hent said "Hong Hyun-suk's mind has already left Hent"

However, for some reason, Hong Hyun-seok's official statement that he is about to take a medical test with Trabzonspor did not appear. The Turkiye media 'Cuzay Express' is on the 24th, 'Travejonspor's recruitment of Hong Hyun-seok: Cancellation?There is a problem with the transfer negotiations in the article under the title '. The players and the team added a release clause to the contract and demanded that South Korea pay taxes instead, revealing the existence of an unexpected variable.

Trabzonspor is said to have been in a tight race, demanding 12 million euros for a buyout, and the player's half of that, 6 million euros. The possibility of staying in Hent was also raised as there was no sign that the disagreement would be easily narrowed. One of the options is to spend the remaining year at Hent and try to advance to the big league as an FA next summer.

According to officials, the trip to Mainz gained momentum on the 27th. Mainz, who has directly observed Hong Hyun-suk, who has been active in Hent since last year, has offered to offer 4 million euros, the last line of transfer fees required by Hent. Germany 'Kicker' reported a transfer fee of €4 million, 'Sky' reported a transfer fee of €6 million. Hong Hyun-seok, who usually expressed his desire to go to the big leagues, changed his mind, and Lee's transfer gained momentum. In other words, he chose to advance to the big league rather than a sweet big salary.

Hong Hyun-seok, a left-footed attacking midfielder like Lee Kang-in, is from Ulsan HD Youth and has been on overseas stages since 2018, including Unterhatching, Junior Ross and LASK. In 2022, he moved to what is now Hent and scored 16 goals in 97 games. Last year, he participated in the Hangzhou Asian Games and helped South Korea win the gold medal. Hong Hyun-seok was wearing a Hent uniform and playing seven games, including the Cup, this season, with two goals and three assists.

Hong Hyun-seok will be confirmed to join Mainz, and he will work with senior Lee Jae-sung, who has a relationship with the national team. The Bundesliga Korean duo, who will succeed Koo Ja-cheol (currently Jeju) and Ji Dong-won (currently Suwon FC), who worked together in Augsburg in the past, has been reborn. Koo Ja-cheol also played with Park Joo-ho (retired) in Mainz.

The number of Korean players playing in the Bundesliga this season has increased to four, including Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Jung Woo-young (Unyon Berlin). Jung Woo-young left Stuttgart on a season-long loan to Union on the 27th. Coach Henriksen said in a pre-press conference against Stuttgart that he was satisfied with the recruitment of Hong Hyun-suk. He is a great soccer player. It has great advantages in contention and pressure. He expected that he would play outstandingly for Mainz.

Hong Hyun-seok took the starting position as soon as he joined the team. In the 3-4-3 formation, Burkardt was at the forefront and Lee Jae-sung and Hong Hyun-seok were on the left and right wings. The horse was a flanker, actually a free-roll. Mbene-Amarie-Sano-Kashi was located in the waistline, and the three-back was composed of Hansch-Allsen, Bell and Core. Gentner defended the goal.

Hong Hyun-seok and Lee Jae-sung performed very well in offense and defense based on their unique activities. In the 6th minute of the first half, Hong Hyun-seok blocked the opponent's attack, which led to Lee Jae-sung's header. The equalizer was also based on the performance of the two players. Hong Hyun-seok intercepted the opponent's pass in the 16th minute of the second half when Mainz was trailing 1-2. The ball was connected to Mbene through Lee Jae-sung. Hansch-Allsen crossed the ball given by Mbene and connected it to Burkart's header. It became an equalizer.

Hong Hyun-seok, who had been running diligently throughout the game, was replaced in the 19th minute of the second half, complaining of leg cramps. Hong Hyun-seok made 30 touches and recorded a 94.7% pass success rate. There was one shot. Two intercepts were recorded. The rating was 6.34, as of Huscored. Lee Jae-sung also played 87 minutes. Lee Jae-sung made 34 touches and recorded a 91.3% pass success rate, with two key passes and one shot. He also recorded two tackles and two clearings in defense. The rating was 7.01.

The game was a slugfest. Mainz lost consecutive points to Enzomillo in the 8th minute and leveling in the 15th minute as the defense collapsed. Mainz found a clue to the chase in the 43rd minute when Amiri scored a penalty. In the 16th minute of the second half, Burkart scored the equalizer with Hong Hyun-seok and Lee Jae-sung's starting play. He lost the game when he gave the leader a free kick in the 42nd minute, but Leitch pushed Vidmer's header straight into his head in the 49th minute and succeeded in a dramatic tie.

Lee Jae-sung, who wrapped up his schedule, will join Hong Myung-bo to play three Asian matches for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Palestine (home) and Oman (away). Hong Hyun-suk failed to make the national team this time.

vanbasten@sportschosun.com

Hong Hyun-seok's high-speed debut, Lee Jae-sung's equalizer starting point 'Very good performance'...Mainz plays Stuttgart 3-3 'Theatrical Draw'

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