On SBS’ Kick a Goal, FC Nine Cheok Giants finally lifted its first championship trophy as the show’s G League wrapped its season.
According to Nielsen Korea, Wednesday’s episode notched a 4.5% household rating in the Seoul metropolitan area, ranking No. 1 among midweek variety shows. The key 20-49 demo hit 1.2%, with a peak minute surging to 6.2%.
FC Nine Cheok Giants and FC Wonder Women squared off in a high-stakes final. Wonder Women came out swinging behind ace Mashima, pinning Nine Cheok Giants back early. But in the 6th minute, momentum flipped: a throw-in from Kim Jin-kyung deflected off a defender’s hand and Lee Hye-jung pounced to make it 1-0. Minutes later, Kim drilled a long-range rocket to double the lead, 2-0.
Mashima wasn’t done. She quickly pulled one back to spark a Wonder Women rally. In the dying minutes, her strike clanged off the post―ending the comeback bid by inches. Nine Cheok Giants held firm behind a stout back line and clutch goalkeeping from Heo Kyung-hee to close it out, 2-1―an emotional first title 1,659 days after the team’s founding.
After the final whistle, captain Lee Hyun-yi fought back tears. “I never thought I was ‘cursed’ about winning,” she said. “But the second that whistle blew, I realized I’d been carrying that weight. In that moment, five years flashed before my eyes.”
Mashima, heartbroken at the finish line, was in tears as well. “It was tough. I’m so disappointed―and I feel sorry to my teammates. I really wanted this,” she said, vowing, “We’re winning it next time.”
At the G League awards, Kang Bo-ram and Park Ha-yan shared the Golden Boot, while Nine Cheok Giants’s Kim Jin-kyung took home the “Golrondor” (season MVP). Capping the finale, analyst Ha Seok-ju announced the launch of a new tournament, the GIFA Cup, featuring a special legends squad, Phoenix United. The all-star lineup includes midfield force Park Sun-young, the league’s first-ever defender MVP Lee Young-jin, lockdown stopper Eva, overhead-kick hero Joo Myeong, and original “Yashin” Ayumi―managed by Choi Jin-cheul, who’ll chase another undefeated title run. Ha teased looming changes, noting the GIFA Cup “could be the last with the current team names and rosters,” stoking intrigue for what’s next.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)