"He embraced his Japanese teammate like a baby": Germany marvels at Lee Ho-jae's monstrous power; transforms into an emergency responder for his debut goal, calling it a "spectacular scene."

*This content was translated by AI.

Korea national team striker Lee Ho-jae (Darmstadt) made a powerful impression from his debut on German soil. After scoring a strong debut goal, he also displayed superhuman strength by lifting and moving a Japanese teammate who had suffered a cramp, drawing local attention.

Darmstadt drew 2-2 against Holstein Kiel in the opening match of the 2026–2027 Bundesliga season at Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor in Darmstadt, Germany, on the 8th (Korea time).

Darmstadt trailed after conceding two goals in the first half. However, substitute Lee Ho-jae scored a consolation goal in the 31st minute of the second half to signal the counterattack. Receiving a pass from Kai Klefisch, Lee struck powerfully with his right foot near the penalty area and shook the net.

This was Lee's first goal in his official German debut after leaving Pohang Steelers last month to join Darmstadt. With Lee's goal shifting momentum, Darmstadt equalized through Aleksandar Bukotic's header in the 41st minute of the second half, overcoming a 0-2 deficit and earning one point.

Lee Ho-jae drew attention not only for his goal but also for an unexpected transformation into an "emergency responder" during the match, displaying superhuman strength by lifting and moving a teammate.

In the 23rd minute of the second half, Japanese teammate Yosuke Furukawa suffered a cramp in his leg and collapsed on the ground. Lee immediately approached Furukawa, straightened his leg, and assisted with stretching.

That was not the end. As Furukawa continued to complain of discomfort, Lee lifted his teammate high into the air with both arms. He then carried him in his arms directly to the bench area outside the ground. Instead of waiting for medical staff and a stretcher, he moved his teammate himself to enable quick treatment and a faster resumption of play.

This scene also became a hot topic in Germany.

German football specialist Kicker described it: "A rare scene unfolded where Lee Ho-jae cradled Furukawa, who was suffering from cramps, like a baby and carried him to the bench." The report added that this action was taken to resume the match as quickly as possible.

Kicker also highlighted Lee's debut goal: "A Korean striker scored a crucial consolation goal with a powerful shot." It further evaluated that Lee has brought hope to Darmstadt's new attacking lineup.

Another German outlet, Sportschau, also expressed admiration for Lee's actions. The outlet reported, "Teamwork shone even in an emergency situation," adding, "After helping Furukawa, who suffered a cramp, with stretching, Lee immediately lifted his teammate and carried him off the field."

It went on to praise: "Faster than any stretcher. Truly an amazing scene."

Bundesliga SNS also noted, "Darmstadt doesn't need a stretcher because they have Lee Ho-jae with incredible strength."

Lee played about 30 minutes on the day and demonstrated his finishing ability by converting his only shot into a goal. He recorded one chance created and a 75% pass success rate, while also contributing actively in defensive situations. Football statistics outlet FootMob gave Lee a rating of 7.2.

As a striker, he scored a debut goal with powerful shooting; when his teammate collapsed, he transformed into an "emergency responder," carrying him in his arms and moving him off the field. In his German debut, Lee showed scoring ability, superhuman strength, and camaraderie, leaving a clear first impression.

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*This content was translated by AI.