Early 2000s come calling in Seoul as Yaya Toure, Park Ji-sung score in clash of the titans game

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Early 2000s come calling in Seoul as Yaya Toure, Park Ji-sung score in clash of the titans game

Published: 20 Oct. 2024, 19:59 Updated: 20 Oct. 2024, 20:54

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Shield United's Clarence Seedorf, right, celebrates scoring during the Nexon Icons Match against FC Spear at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The Nexon Icons Match pit some of the best forwards against the best defenders of the past 20 years at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday, ending with a resounding victory for the defenders as Shield United thumped FC Spear 4-1.

The exhibition match organized by Korean game company Nexon featured FC Spear and Shield United, two entirely made-up teams of football legends.

It was an attack vs. defense affair. FC Spear, as the name suggests, was nearly all offense, while Shield United was home to some of the best defenders and defensive midfielders.

Both sides fielded a full 11-player team, although FC Spear had no suitable options in defence and Shield had no solid forward picks.

FC Spear player-coach Thierry Henry started himself at fullback in a 4-3-3 formation, with Eden Hazard, Alessandro Del Piero and Luis Figo out in front.

Over in the center, Rivaldo, Kaka and Marouane Fellaini started as three central midfielders, with Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Drogba and Carlos Tevez completing the back four. Former Korean national team goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji was in goal.

FC Spear were just as strong on the bench, with Andriy Shevchenko, Park Ji-sung, Lee Chun-soo, Michael Owen, Ahn Jung-hwan, Diego Forlan and Kim Young-dae. All subsitutes made an appearance in the match.

FC Spear's Didier Drogba, left, vies for the ball with Shield United's Javier Mascherano during the Nexon Icons Match against FC Spear at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Shield United player-coach Fabio Cannavaro, meanwhile, put himself as one of the three center-backs in a 3-4-3 formation alongside Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

The front three were Yaya Toure, John Arne Riise and Clarence Seedorf. Javier Mascherano, Andrea Pirlo, Leonardo Bonucci and Carles Puyol started as central midfielders, with former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar in goal.

Waiting on the bench were Ricardo Carvalho, Park Joo-ho, Adilson, Lee Young-pyo, Lee Min-hyuk and Kim Nam-il.

The long line of football royalty stretched even further back as Korean legend Cha Bum-kun of the 1970s and '80s Cha Bum-kun walked on to the pitch before the game with the trophy to be awarded to the winner of Sunday's match.

When the match kicked off, there was an unsurprising lack of cohesion on both ends of the pitch, but the individual talent was still clearly visible. Pirlo made effective through balls, Henry very quickly shoot the rust off and Kaka showed that age is just a number as he refused to shy away from any challenge.

FC Spear had more advantage in attack, but Shield United still found the back of the net first with Toure slotting in a ball from Seedorf in the 15th minute.

Seedorf doubled the lead three minutes later, shooting from near the half-way mark to put the ball in when Kim was off his line.

FC Spear struggled to find a crack in the armor of Shield United, who comfortably fell back into the defensive positions they held for so many years back in their glory days.

Every time FC Spear had the ball inside the penalty area, the veteran defenders made adjustments to take away any chance of a shot, leaving goalkeeper Van der Sar with little work to do.

Regardless of how the players performed, the loud support from the 62,000 fans continued throughout the match with some fan favorites like Drogba getting cheered whenever they got near the ball.

Goalkeeper Kim was also a particularly popular figure on the pitch. Fans called his name out loud and clapped for every save.

FC Spear's Kim Byung-ji dribbles the ball during the Nexon Icons Match against Shield United at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The match was not the only showcase that fans could enjoy.

American rock bad All Time Low, who sang FIFA Online 3’s theme song “Time Bomb,” performed during a halftime show, including the theme song, turning up the excitement ahead of the second half.

The second half saw Shield United quickly stretch their lead, with Park Joo-ho finding the back of the net in the 57th minute.

FC Spear, meanwhile, failed to overcome the powerful defense, and Shield United added yet another when Mascherano scored from a tight angle in the 81st minute, pushing the score to 4-0.

FC Spear finally pulled one back when Park Ji-sung himself came onto the pitch, scoring a penalty in the 85th minute.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]