Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: Lee Dong-gook became the K-League's all-time top scorer with 117 goals on Saturday when he scored twice as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors defeated fellow 2012 AFC Champions League qualifiers Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3-2 in the season opener.
Lee, who was top scorer in last year's AFC Champions League with nine goals as Jeonbuk finished runners-up to Al Sadd, equaled the previous K-League record of 116 set by Woo Sung-yong in the 14th minute before breaking the former Seongnam striker's mark just four minutes later.
"I'm really happy because Jeonbuk played an entertaining match and grabbed a win. Of course, I broke a record. I always play matches thinking that chance will come," two-time K-League MVP Lee told reporters after their match.
"My goal is always the same, to score every match I play. It means I need to score 44 goals this season. We'll play more matches than last season so I'll take care of myself physically.
"But I also played many games last year so I think I can have great season. I want to score more goals."
Brazilian striker Everton Santos (Everton Leandro dos Santos Pinto) struck in the 24th and 51st minutes to draw Seongnam level only for his compatriot Eninho (Enio Oliveira Junior) ensured it was a winning start to the defence of their K-League title for Jeonbuk.
Jeonbuk, ACL champions in 2006, begin their latest continental campaign on Wednesday when they host Guangzhou Evergrande while Seongnam, champions in 2010, play their Group G curtain raiser in Japan on the same day when they face Nagoya Grampus.