On the Aug. 13 episode of SBS’ 'Kick a Goal', World Class and Top Girl faced off in a do-or-die survival match.
Before kickoff, all eyes were on the teams’ aces, who both made waves from the moment they debuted on the show. Fans were eager to see which star would come out on top.
Lee Yoo-jung had yet to win since joining the league, while Saori was still searching for her first G League goal―raising the question of who would finally break through.
“I’m not losing today,” Lee vowed. Saori fired back with swagger: “I scored a hat trick against Top Girl in the final once. I’m going for another hat trick and a high-five with my coach. As an original member and the show’s first scoring queen, I want to put on a show.”
Lee struck first. The player who even won over Premier League star Hwang Hee-chan last week split World Class’s back line and forced the opener, which went down as an own goal by Karign after she couldn’t cut off Lee’s run.
Top Girl kept piling on chances. Against expectations, the game tilted one way―and they doubled the lead next.
Lee’s pinpoint pass found Yubin for the finish. The move started with a quick outlet throw from goalkeeper Lee Chae-yeon after she snuffed out an attack, a sequence that showcased Top Girl’s chemistry.
Down 2-0 in a flash, Coach Kim Byung-ji tried to steady World Class, telling his players one goal at a time would flip the momentum.
But the first half ended without a response. Early in the second, Saori finally delivered the lifeline she’d been chasing―her first-ever G League goal, making it extra sweet.
Just as the tide looked set to turn, Top Girl answered again. Chae Ri-na set up Lee Yoo-jung, who buried it to make it 3-1.
With Lee on a tear, Top Girl seemed in control at 3-1.
Then a single mistake by Kim Bo-kyung handed Saori another, and it was 3-2 in a heartbeat.
In the dying minutes, World Class’s Karign produced a miracle equalizer to stun the arena.
Even the commentators marveled, calling it “a scoreline you wouldn’t believe for a survival match.”
Both sides threw everything at it to the end. Top Girl keeper Lee Chae-yeon denied Saori’s hat trick with a highlight-reel save, and regulation finished 3-3.
It all came down to penalties: the show’s top-tier shot-stopper Kathy versus rising prospect Lee Chae-yeon.
Coach Kim Tae-young told Lee, “If you make the save, we win. You saw how your teammates fought out there. Now it’s on you. You got this.”
Coach Kim Byung-ji rallied Kathy: “Be confident. If all five score, we win 100 percent. Kathy will get at least one.”
Thanks to Lee Chae-yeon, Top Girl went up 2-1 in the shootout. Their remaining kickers all converted, and it came down to Elody. One more save from Lee would seal it, and the stadium held its breath.
With only one prior shootout on her resume, Lee Chae-yeon guessed right on Elody and punched away the shot―clinching the win.
It was Top Girl’s first G League victory, their ticket to stay alive in the 'Kick a Goal' league, and the final win under Coach Kim Tae-young. The team embraced in tears.
“It was electric―like all the knots inside finally came undone,” Lee Chae-yeon said. “I’m so proud we could give the coach a win as a parting gift.”
As the episode closed, Top Girl and other former pupils sent Coach Kim Tae-young off with warm cheers for his next chapter, saying a happy goodbye as he sets out on a new challenge.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)