Koreans in Europe: Lee Young-ju scores for Madrid in 1-1 draw

Madrid CFF mark Lee Young-ju's goal against Sociedad in a post on X on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Korean midfielder Lee Young-ju scored for Madrid CFF in a top-tier Primera Division clash with Sociedad on Sunday, putting the visitors ahead early at Instalaciones de Zubieta in San Sebastian, Spain.

Lee, 31, struck in the 18th minute to give Madrid an early lead. The club held on until stoppage time at the end of the second half, conceding a late equalizer at 90+1 for a 1-1 draw.

Madrid currently sit at fourth in the 16-team Spanish league, 11 points behind Barcelona in first place, with local rivals Real Madrid taking second and Levante in third. The third Madrid team, Atletico, sit just one point behind in fifth place.

Lee joined Madrid CFF in 2022 and has become a regular fixture in the squad, starting seven games and appearing in all 14 so far this season.

A veteran midfielder, Lee has made 55 appearances for Korea, including at last year’s Women’s World Cup. She has two goals to her name, generally playing as a defensive midfielder rather than as part of the attacking lineup.

Lee is the only member of the Korean national team currently playing in Spain, a highly competitive league where women’s teams have begun to see as high attendance at some matches as their male equivalents.

Madrid will be back in action on Saturday as they take on sixth-place Sevilla at home in Madrid.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]