All-Star MVP title goes to high-scoring FC player

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All-Star MVP title goes to high-scoring FC player

Kim Eun-jung was the star of the 2004 All-Star Professional Soccer Competition between central and southern regional teams, held Sunday at Daejeon World Cup Stadium after heavy rains and winds had swept through.
Kim, a 25-year-old member of the FC Seoul pro club and starting striker for the Central team, put through two goals in the first half to help his team snag a 4-2 victory.
For his achievements, Kim earned the MVP title with 30 out of 43 votes. The honor also meant Kim took home 10 million won ($8,700) in prize money and a plasma TV set.
“Shortly after changing teams, I came under heavy criticism from Daejeon fans,” said Kim, who earlier this year switched to FC Seoul from Daejeon Citizen. “But I am always proud of being a native of Daejeon.”
At Sunday’s All-Star game, his fans were behind him: Rather than booing the hometown kid, Daejeon fans cheered Kim on.
Johannes Bonfrere, the new coach of the national soccer team, and Kim Ho-gon, coach of the Olympic soccer team, got the game under way with symbolic opening kicks.
The first goal for Central came 20 minutes into the first half. Lee Kwan-woo of Daejeon Citizen passed a ball to Nadson Rodrigues de Souza of the Suwon Samsung Blue Wings, who managed to evade an opponent and deliver a strong mid-distance shot that cut through the air and shook the net of the Southern team.
Eight minutes later, Lee Eul-yong of FC Seoul passed the ball high to Kim, who trapped it in his chest and succeeded in nudging the ball past the goaltender with his right foot.
Kim succeeded in scoring yet another goal just six minutes afterward.
Kim’s shot in the penalty area bounced off an opponent’s foot and shook the net. Rather than being treated as an error, the goal was credited to Kim.
Kim Do-hun was responsible for Central’s final goal, in the second half.
“There were players that interested me, but I can’t talk about it today,” Bonfrere told reporters.
Since All-Star matches began in 1998, the Southern all-star team leads the Central team with 4 wins to 3.


by Jeong Young-jae, Kang Hye-ran
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