“It was a crazy save, even for me.”
Daejeon Hana Citizen head coach Lee Min-sung used the word “crazy” to describe goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun (30, Daejeon Hana)’s saves in the 37th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 against Jeju at Jeju World Cup Stadium on May 25. Lee made a total of six saves to lead his team to a clean sheet and a 2-0 victory. 토토사이트
It came in the 13th minute of the second half, when Jeju was pushing hard in the second half. Lee blocked a shot from Hayes in front of the goal on a cross from Jeju’s flank. The rebound found its way back to Hayes, who tried to shoot again, but this time he used his body to deflect the ball away. It was a save that could not have been made without tremendous athleticism and reflexes. This goal shows just how good Lee Chang-geun has been this season. After making his professional debut in 2012 and playing for Busan, Suwon FC, and Jeju before settling in Daejeon in 2022, Lee is in the prime of his career in his 12th year. Lee made 129 saves in all 37 K League 1 matches this year, the most in the league. With one game left in the season, he is 15 saves away from the second place finisher, Jeju’s Kim Dong-jun (114).
His save percentage is also staggering. With 443 shots on goal and 207 shots on target, he stopped 129 balls for a save percentage of 62.32%, which is over 60%. This is higher than Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan, 54.07%), who stopped 113 of 209 shots. Only Jeonbuk’s Kim Jung-hoon (63.95%) has a higher save percentage among goalkeepers who have faced more than 100 shots this season.
Lee will set the record for most saves in a single season in Korean professional soccer if he records two or more saves in the final match of the 38th round against Seoul at Daejeon World Cup Stadium next month. Since the KFA began keeping records in 2007, the record for most saves in the top tier of the K League (including K League 1) is 130, held by Yoo Hyun (Gangwon) in 2009 and Kang Hyun-moo (Pohang) in 2018, one behind Lee.
Lee has been an integral part of Daejeon’s defense this season. As of Round 37, Daejeon has conceded 56 goals, which ranks third in the league. Only Suwon FC (75) and Suwon (57) have conceded more goals than Daejeon. Despite these defensive woes, promoted Daejeon was able to finish the season in a solid eighth place, thanks in large part to Lee Chang-geun in goal. He kept seven clean sheets in difficult conditions.