*This content was translated by AI.
Korean forward Lee Ho-jae (26) stepped onto his new home ground for the first time amid a warm welcome from fans of his new club, Darmstadt 98.
Hessenchau reported on Tuesday (Korea time) that "Darmstadt failed to score in their final pre-season friendly ahead of the German 2. Bundesliga season opener," adding that "a new hope to resolve attacking issues will soon join the squad."
On Monday, Darmstadt drew 0-0 against Portsmouth, a Championship side, in a pre-season friendly. The match, which also served as the team's season kickoff, drew 6,325 home fans.
The "new hope" introduced by Hessenchau was Lee Ho-jae.
Lee Ho-jae, who played as a key forward for Pohang Steelers in K League 1, transferred to Darmstadt on the 29th and made his European debut. Before joining the team, he scored his first goal in a closed-door friendly against Heracles Almelo of the Dutch Eerste Divisie. He faced Darmstadt home fans for the first time in the Portsmouth match.
Hessenchau stated, "The player who received the loudest applause was Lee Ho-jae, newly signed from Korea," and added, "When Lee Ho-jae came on as a substitute in the second half, home fans stood up from their seats to welcome him with great joy."
They further described the atmosphere at the stadium at the time by saying, "Finally, the central striker we've been waiting for has arrived."
There was a clear reason why Darmstadt fans had been eagerly awaiting Lee Ho-jae. Under coach Florian Kofelt, Darmstadt scored 57 goals in the 2025–2026 German 2. Bundesliga season, ranking fourth in team scoring, and finished fifth in the league.
While overall attacking performance was not poor, strengthening the front line became urgent ahead of the new season. This is because Isaac Lidebe and Fraser Hornby, who were responsible for last season's attacks, both left the club simultaneously. Lidebe moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Hornby joined Wolfsburg. To fill the void left by these two key attackers, Darmstadt signed Lee Ho-jae and assigned him the number 9 jersey.
Lee Ho-jae came on as a substitute in the 75th minute of the Portsmouth match and played approximately 30 minutes. Although he received a warm welcome from home fans, he did not record any attacking contributions.
Clear scoring opportunities did not come Lee Ho-jae's way. He finished the match without taking a shot but worked to hold up play in the forward line and participated in passing combinations, showing chemistry with his new teammates.
Frankfurter Rundschau reported, "Lee Ho-jae came on as a substitute in the 75th minute but failed to score or create any special chances," adding, "Nevertheless, he received applause from Darmstadt fans."
The outlet continued, "We will have to wait and see what Lee Ho-jae shows in the new season. However, his presence on the field has already been demonstrated."
As he has only recently joined the team, Lee Ho-jae also needs time to adapt. Darmstadt's attacking lineup has changed significantly compared to last season. Lee Ho-jae must learn his new teammates' movements and coach Kofelt's tactics. How quickly he integrates into the team's attack will be crucial.
Frankfurter Rundschau noted, "Almost everything in Darmstadt's attacking setup has changed compared to last season," adding, "The current attacking power is not yet formidable. This was especially evident when facing teams with strong physicality like Portsmouth, as coach Kofelt pointed out."
There were also areas for Lee Ho-jae to improve. After the match, coach Kofelt said, "Lee Ho-jae did not always know exactly where to run when we applied pressure," indicating that he needs time to adapt to the team's tactics.
Coach Kofelt also addressed the entire team, stating, "We were unable to achieve the desired speed during our attacking phases," and explained, "Currently, we have not yet reached the same level as this time last year. Players need to get to know each other better."
Lee Ho-jae, nicknamed the "Cannon Shooter," is the son of Yanbian Longding coach Lee Ki-hyung. He began playing football in New Zealand during his childhood and stands at an impressive 193 cm tall. After joining Pohang in 2021 and making his professional debut, he has appeared in 149 K League 1 matches, recording 43 goals and 7 assists.
Last season, he scored 15 goals and provided one assist in the league, achieving double-digit scoring for the first time since his debut. Based on this performance, he was selected for the South Korean national team and participated in the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship. He played in all tournament matches and scored his first A-match goal against Hong Kong in the second game.
If Lee Ho-jae plays in Darmstadt's official debut match against Holstein Kiel on the 8th, which kicks off the German 2. Bundesliga season, it will mark his official debut for the club.
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*This content was translated by AI.
