K-League XI Stuns Newcastle United in Pre-Season Friendly
The match ended with a surprising 1-0 victory for the K-League All-Stars, adding to Newcastle’s challenging pre-season campaign.
K-League XI Stuns Newcastle United in Pre-Season Friendly
This article recaps the key moments, team performances, and broader implications of the match. Match Overview The K-League XI, managed by Ulsan HD’s Kim Pan-gon, fielded a squad of top talents from South Korea’s premier football league. Facing them was Newcastle United, led by Eddie Howe, who were looking to rebound from consecutive pre-season losses to Celtic (4-0) and Arsenal (3-2). Despite high expectations, Newcastle struggled to find their rhythm, and the K-League XI capitalized on their opportunity to secure a historic win. Key Moments The decisive moment came when Kim Jin-gyu scored the only goal of the match for the K-League XI. Displaying composure, Kim lifted the ball over Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, finding the top corner with a classy finish. His celebration, a playful "reeling in the fish" gesture, delighted the home crowd. Newcastle had a chance to equalize when new signing Anthony Elanga unleashed a powerful shot, but the K-League goalkeeper made a crucial sa…