Wednesday’s final crowns a new champion as first-time finalists FC Wonder Women clash with FC Nine Cheok Giants, who are chasing a third title. The all-time head-to-head tilts 3-1 toward Nine Cheok Giants, but Wonder Women took their most recent meeting, making this one too close to call. The question is simple: Who hoists the trophy as the current juggernaut of "Kick a Goal"?
Another headline: a finals rematch on the touchline between coaches Cho Jae-jin and Lee Young-pyo, who last faced off in the inaugural Super League title game. Back then, Cho’s National Team Family edged Lee’s Actionista, powered by the show’s original No. 1 technician, Lee Jung-eun. “Teams with a Messi or a Ronaldo usually win. If you’ve got elite talent, you’ve got to finish the job,” Cho said, signaling he’ll once again ride his ace, Mashima.
Wonder Women’s path hasn’t been smooth. Ahead of the final, Woo Hee-jun fractured her wrist in training, limiting what she can do. And Mashima, who was blanketed by Jung Ye-won’s tight man-marking in a recent loss to BallaDream, now draws another shadow: Nine Cheok Giants’s shutdown specialist Cha Se-rin, nicknamed the “Ace Eraser.” Still, Mashima is unfazed: “I expect man-marking again, but this time you’ll see a different, more strategic game from me.” Early on, despite the injury bug, Wonder Women reportedly showed crisp chemistry and seized momentum, firing up the crowd.
There was extra support in the stands, too. Former Wonder Women members Kim Hee-jung and Truedy returned to cheer the squad, pouring on the energy and lifting team morale. With that boost, fans are eager to see whether Wonder Women can script a fairytale finish―or if Nine Cheok Giants’s experience wins the day.
The G-League title match airs Wednesday at 9 p.m. KST on SBS’s "Kick a Goal".
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)