King of Kings University Final: Match Report
Sunmoon University faceoff against Ulsan University in the final of the autumn university championship in South Korea
Sunmoon University achieved a unique treble of wins in the 2024 university season. They claimed victory in the August 60th National University Tournament by beating Yong-In University in the final. Following that, after winning their university group league, which precedes the King of Kings Tournament, they defeated Ulsan University in its final on penalties in sudden death after a tense 0-0 draw.
Sunmoon goalkeeper Kim Dong-hwa emerged as the hero during the penalty shootout, as he had done in the semi-finals. Both teams reached the final after triumphing in penalty shootouts in the semi-finals. Sunmoon overcame Jeonju University, who had topped Ulsan in their league group despite only the one defeat, while Ulsan had defeated Hongik University.
As is usually the case the drama of penalty shootouts was in full effect. Ulsan were within touching distance of the trophy, with their first four penalties confidently dispatched. Sunmoon, having taken their allotted five penalties, missed their fourth, giving Ulsan a chance to secure the win. However, Park Hee-su’s effort to the goalkeeper’s right was well saved, sending the match into sudden death.
The contest was finally decided on the eighth penalty. Ulsan’s Shin Chan-gyeol stepped up but was denied by Kim Dong-hwa, who once again delivered penalty heroics to secure Sunmoon University’s dramatic victory.
The university season in South Korea concludes with the prestigious King of Kings Tournament, which brings together the top teams from the four top university league divisions to compete in a knockout format. The 2024 Autumn Tournament saw Sunmoon University host Ulsan University in a highly anticipated final. Both teams can boast of having produced current national team players, Cho Hyun-woo from Sunmoon and Seol Young-woo from Ulsan. Fittingly, with both players linked to the K League's Ulsan Hyundai, the final turned into an "all-blue affair," with Ulsan donning their Ulsan Hyundai affiliate kits and Sunmoon sporting their usual light-blue home kits.
The opening fifteen minutes of the match were largely a feeling-out process. Sunmoon, operating with a back three, attempted to build play from the back, while Ulsan, employing a 4-2-3-1 formation, pressed high up the pitch. However, neither side's tactics yielded any early breakthroughs. As the match progressed, the hosts, Sunmoon, began to find their rhythm. They put the visitors under pressure with long throw-ins and showcased impressive passing sequences from their six-foot-one defender, Song Ho, who stood out with his composure at the back and passing range.
The first shot of the game came in the 21st minute, with Ulsan’s Shin Chan-gyeol attempting a range-finder from 20 yards out. However, his effort was comfortably saved by Sunmoon’s Kim Dong-hwa. That attempt seemed to energize the away team, who began to dominate possession, led by some excellent work on the right flank from Kim Yong-min, creating several dangerous situations, leaving Sunmoon struggling to break out of their own half.
Sunmoon managed to stem the tide with the best effort of the first half. It began with an excellent left-footed cross-field pass from Song Ho, leading to a ball back across the box that found wingback Jeon Min-su in space. His powerful 20-yard shot narrowly missed, clipping the top of the side netting. After a few additional half-chances at either end, the first half concluded goalless, leaving everything to play for in the second half.
Sunmoon started the second half brighter, with Lee Ju-hyuk firing a shot from outside the box within the first minute after the restart. Just a minute later, halftime substitute Jeong Seong-yeop tested the Ulsan goalkeeper with a stinging effort from a tight angle.
As the match wore on, cramps began to disrupt the game’s flow, coupled with an unusual interruption involving the opening of gates to allow Sunmoon’s long throws to be delivered. Both teams searched for a breakthrough but struggled to produce quality in the final third, as both defenses remained resolute.
Ulsan came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 71st minute. Captain Kim Hyeon-woo delivered a left-footed inswinging corner that narrowly missed connecting with league top scorer Park Geon-woong inside the six-yard box. Sunmoon responded with a chance of their own from a set piece, as Song Ho controlled the ball with his chest and fired a shot on the turn, but his effort sailed over the bar from just eight yards out.
The final ten minutes saw the home team push forward in search of a winner. Lim Jun-hee displayed impressive footwork to carve out a sliver of space in a crowded Ulsan penalty box, but his shot lacked power, allowing Ulsan goalkeeper Park Man-ho to comfortably smother the ball. Moments later, Park was called into action again. The second-year shot-stopper reacted quickly, rushing off his line to block a close-range effort from 10 yards, with Kim Hyeon-woo applying pressure on the Sunmoon forward.
That marked the last significant chance of regulation time. With neither side able to break the deadlock during the additional 30 minutes of extra time, the match headed to a penalty shootout to decide the 2024 King of Kings Champion.
MOM - Sun Ho - centre back (Sunmoon University)
Full replay of the game is available here