“We just play hard”.
Shield United (defense) defeated FC Spear (offense) 4-1 in the Nexon Icon Match 2024 at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
The match brought together some of soccer’s most iconic legends, and tickets sold out within an hour of going on sale, with 64,210 fans filling the stadium to show their support.
FC Spear is a team of world-class attackers, managed by Thierry Henry and coached by Park Ji-Sung. Chelsea legend Didier Drogba captained the team and led the offense. Shield United was a defensive team coached by Fabio Cannavaro, with Rio Ferdinand as captain to build a wall of defense. Both teams were coached by Lee Young-pyo, and both teams had high expectations from soccer fans.
From the start, Shield United’s organized defense and quick counterattacks stood out. In the 13th minute, Yaya Toure set the tone for the game when he scored the first goal after a subtle penetration and a pass from Seidorf. Seidorff added a second goal in the 21st minute from long range to send the crowd into a frenzy. The crowd continued to cheer enthusiastically and became engrossed in the game.
Shield United’s momentum continued in the second half.
In the ninth minute of the second half, Park scored the team’s third goal off a pass from Seidorf on a quick counterattack. The goal was a perfect example of Shield United’s defense and offense working in perfect harmony. In the 35th minute, 메이저사이트 Mascherano sealed the victory when he beat the keeper with a soft dribble.
FC Spear struggled to break through the shield throughout the match, but Park Ji-sung gave the fans something to remember in the final minutes. He had been limited to a coaching role due to his knee condition, but he took to the field in the second half after being substituted by Steady Hwan. As soon as Park warmed up, the stadium erupted in cheers, with fans chanting his name.
Park was awarded a penalty kick shortly after the substitution, and he calmly converted the goal to become an icon in the fans’ memories. The crowd celebrated Park’s goal by singing the ‘Wisong Pare’ chant, and one fan was even seen in tears on the broadcast screen.
Shield United’s 4-1 victory was more than just a game.
In a match that featured some of soccer’s greatest legends, the defenders outplayed the attackers and emerged victorious.
There was a lot of buzz surrounding the game, not the least of which was the presence of Eden Hazard. Playing for Spear, he was the only player in the game who was born in the 90s. Born in 1991, he is simply one year older than Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah (both born in 1992).
In fact, Kevin De Bruyne, who is the same age as him, is still a regular midfielder for Manchester City. It’s an old age, but it’s also an early retirement considering how much longer he’s been on the field than in the past.
Many fans who saw him play in the Legends Match felt sorry for him and criticized his self-care. One fan sighed on social media, “Azhar is playing 90s Singh in a Legends match where those inspirations are playing,” while another wrote, “How does he manage to play? Another shook his head, “How is Azhar playing there and not at his club?”
