[SBS Night] 'Kick a Goal' Nine Cheok Giants Triumph Over National Team Family in Penalty Shootout

The Nine Cheok Giants have edged out the National Team Family to secure their spot in the G-League finals.

In the latest episode of SBS's 'Kick a Goal', the second semi-final match of the G-League was a nail-biter.

The episode featured a fierce battle for the last spot in the G-League finals between the National Team Family and the Nine Cheok Giants.

The undefeated National Team Family and the Nine Cheok Giants, eager to break their title drought, both had their eyes set on the finals. Adding to the excitement, Hwang Hee-chan, the brother of Hwang Hee-jung, was spotted in the stands with family and friends, drawing attention.

Hwang Hee-chan shared, "I know how stressful these games can be for my sister. It's true she wants to impress, but since it's a team sport, I hope she can focus and contribute to the team's success," showing his support for Hwang Hee-jung.

From the get-go, both teams engaged in a breath-taking display of skill, clashing head-on in their attempts to dominate the game, which led to physical confrontations among players.

During one such exchange, Hwang Hee-jung was knocked down by a shot from Park Ha-yan, suffering an impact to her ankle.

Witnessing his sister in pain, Hwang Hee-chan immediately recognized the severity, exclaiming, "Her ankle's twisted!"

Park Ha-yan expressed remorse, saying, "I feel guilty and sorry," acknowledging her role in the injury that necessitated Hwang Hee-jung's substitution.

As Hwang Hee-jung was carried off, the Nine Cheok Giants intensified their attack, leading to the opening goal of the match.

The momentum shifted with Lee Hyun-yi's opening goal for the Nine Cheok Giants. However, the drama didn't end there as the National Team Family's goalkeeper, Kim Soo-yeon, also went down after a collision with Park Ha-yan.

Despite the pain, Kim Soo-yeon bravely continued, guarding the goalpost. Park Ha-yan then scored an equalizer, bringing the game back to life.

In a twist of fate, a misunderstanding led to a foul by Heo Kyung-hee, which was graciously overlooked by the National Team Family's coach, Baek Ji-hoon, in a display of sportsmanship that was met with applause from the spectators.

The game saw another moment of sportsmanship when Kim Soo-yeon was fouled. Coach Lee Young-pyo of the Nine Cheok Giants reciprocated Baek Ji-hoon's earlier gesture, leading to another round of applause as the match resumed.

The teams exchanged goals, with the Nine Cheok Giants pulling ahead 3-2. Despite her injury, Hwang Hee-jung bravely re-entered the game, replacing the visibly swollen-footed goalkeeper Kim Soo-yeon.

With Kim Soo-yeon out, Park Ha-yan stepped in as goalkeeper, managing to score and reset the game.

In the final moments, a handball foul by Lee Hye-jung of the Nine Cheok Giants gave the National Team Family a chance for a penalty kick, a shot at turning the game around.

However, a superb save by Heo Kyung-hee kept the score level, leading to a penalty shootout.

In a tense shootout, both Park Ha-yan and Heo Kyung-hee, stepping in as goalkeepers, saw their teams' kickers succeed one after another.

But it was Heo Kyung-hee who ultimately made the decisive saves, securing victory for the Nine Cheok Giants in the shootout.

Securing their place in the finals, Lee Hyun-yi of the Nine Cheok Giants tearfully stated, "We never let our guard down. This victory is the result of our mindset and hard work."

The National Team Family, on the other hand, couldn't hold back their tears of disappointment. Coach Baek Ji-hoon expressed, "Today's loss was incredibly tough. Watching it unfold and seeing the players blame themselves was hard," his voice breaking with emotion.

Baek Ji-hoon added, "Having spent over eight months together, we've grown close. Though our journey ends here, I hope for better outcomes in the future."

Hwang Hee-chan also shared, "Kick a Goal has become a significant part of my sister's life. She truly loves it, and I hope she continues to find happiness in it. Please continue to support Kick a Goal and me," drawing attention with his heartfelt message. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)