Report: Kang-In Lee debut and party ends in defeat in Korea | OneFootball

Another preseason match for Atlético de Madrid, this time played in Korea against Manchester City, which serves as another small step in the team’s preparations for the new season. In Seoul, we saw Kang-In Lee make his debut in the red and white shirt, leaving a good impression, while the stands turned into a party to celebrate the South Korean star’s signing for Atlético.

The 3-1 scoreline is misleading, since after Atlético went into halftime with the lead, Manchester City turned this preseason friendly around with the last two goals coming from more than questionable positions, sealing the English side’s victory on Asian soil.

In the first half, City had the upper hand in a typical preseason game, where there were defensive mistakes from the red-and-whites that the Citizens failed to take advantage of, until the hydration break arrived. From that point on, Atleti regained a bit more control of the ball and the chances shifted in their favor.

Around the half-hour mark, Lookman could have opened the scoring for our side after a through ball from Hjulmand, but neither the Nigerian nor Mendoza, who was lively throughout the match, managed to hit the target. Chances came at both ends, until from a corner taken by Koke, Hjulmand set up Jorge Dominguez, who from an onside position made no mistake one-on-one with Donnarumma.

Just before the end of the first half, Lookman came close to extending the lead, creating a good opening from a pass by Hancko, but he fired high as he tried to finish the Slovak’s assist.

City more clinical than the linesman

In the second half, City looked for more penetration down the wings, and that was how they found the goals that sparked the comeback.

The first came in the 56th minute, after a great move by Semenyo, who drove down the right flank all the way to the byline before setting up Marmoush, who had an easy finish to level the score.

Very shortly afterward, a similar move happened again, but this time with controversy. Marmoush scored again to put City ahead, but Atlético’s players protested heavily for offside at the start of the play. The images confirmed it, but with no VAR in this preseason match, the goal stood.

Midway through the half, Atleti made a mass substitution, with Kang In-Lee making his debut. He showed good signs during his time on the pitch and looked eager to impress the Korean fans who had packed the stands.

These were Atleti’s best minutes, with chances to equalize, but none of them were converted.

Esquivel (already in goal in place of Oblak) also denied City a few chances to kill off the match, but in the 89th minute, Aït-Nouri (also from a questionable position) found himself alone in front of Esquivel’s goal, finished across goal, and sealed the game at the final 3-1.

Defeat on Korean soil, but there is still optimism among the Atlético faithful because of the season to come and the transfer business Atleti are doing to strengthen Cholo Simeone’s squad.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.