The G League concluded with the first victory of 'Gucheokjangsin' since its inception on SBS's 'Goal Daring Women.'
The episode that aired on the 27th recorded a Nielsen Korea household rating of 4.5% (based on the metropolitan area), claiming the top spot in household ratings for entertainment programs, while the buzz metric 2049 target rating was 1.2%, with a peak rating soaring to 6.2%.
In this episode, 'FC Gucheokjangsin' faced off against 'FC Wonder Woman' in the long-awaited final. The early stages of the match were dominated by the momentum of 'Wonder Woman.' The attack led by ace Mashima strongly pressured Gucheokjangsin. However, in the 6th minute of the first half, an unexpected goal occurred. When Kim Jinkyung's kick-in hit an opponent's hand and deflected, Lee Hyejeong capitalized on it, finishing it into the goal, putting Gucheokjangsin ahead 1-0. Then, in the 12th minute of the first half, Kim Jinkyung's long-range shot shook the net, quickly widening the gap to 2-0.
However, 'Wonder Woman' ace Mashima would not back down. Just 12 minutes into the first half, she scored a goal and brought 'Wonder Woman' back to life. In the closing minutes of the second half, Mashima's shot hit the goalpost and bounced out, dashing 'Wonder Woman's' dreams of a comeback, while 'Gucheokjangsin' secured the match with solid defense and goalkeeper Heo Kyunhee's performance, finishing 2-1. It was a momentous first victory for 'Gucheokjangsin' after 1,659 days since its inception.
After the match, Gucheokjangsin captain Lee Hyun said, "I never thought I had any regrets about winning. But at the moment the whistle blew, I realized, 'I had regrets about (winning).' The whistle blew quickly, and in that moment, the five years passed by in a rush," as her eyes welled with tears. On the other hand, Mashima, who faced disappointment at the threshold of victory, noted, "It was tough. I feel very sorry for the members and really wanted to win," shedding tears and proclaimed, "I will definitely win next time."
At the G League awards ceremony, Kang Boram and Park Hayan were crowned top scorers, while Gucheokjangsin's Kim Jinkyung received the prestigious Gollongdor award. Along with the finale of the G League, Chairperson Ha Seok-joo announced the start of a new league, the GIFA CUP. Notably, this tournament is expected to feature a special team, 'Phoenix United,' composed of legends from 'Goal Daring Women.'
Legends from each team gathered, including the absolute ruler on the field, Park Seonyoung, the first defender MVP Lee Youngjin, Eva with heavenly defense skills, overhead kick specialist Joomyeong, and the original 'Yashin,' Ayumi. Additionally, expectations are high to see if coach Choi Jinchul can lead the team to reproduce the 'undefeated championship myth.' Chairperson Ha Seok-joo revealed, "The GIFA Cup could be the last time we play with the current team name and members," sparking curiosity about future changes.
SBS's 'Goal Daring Women' airs every Wednesday night at 9 p.m.
[Photo] SBS
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