Forward Lee Ho-jae, who transferred to Germany's 2. Bundesliga team Darmstadt, made an immediate impact by scoring in his debut match.
On August 9, during the opening match of the 2026-2027 season against Holstein Kiel at the Merck Stadion am Böllenfalltor, Lee came off the bench in the second half and netted a goal.
Lee's goal helped Darmstadt come back from a 2-0 deficit to finish the match in a 2-2 draw.
Starting the game on the bench, Lee entered the field in the 60th minute, replacing Finn Lakenmacher, marking his debut on the European stage.
Just 16 minutes after his introduction, in the 76th minute, Lee received a pass from Kai Klefisch on the right side of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful right-footed shot that found the back of the net.
Buoyed by Lee's goal, Darmstadt continued to press forward, and in the 81st minute, Aleksandar Bukotic scored a dramatic equalizer, securing a valuable point for the team.
Born in 2000, Lee Ho-jae is a traditional striker known for his aerial ability and sharp shooting skills, standing at 191 cm tall. He is also recognized as the son of former national team coach Lee Gi-hyung.
Lee had an impressive career in the K League 1 with Pohang Steelers, where he made 177 appearances and scored 53 goals before fulfilling his dream of moving to Europe by joining Darmstadt at the end of last month.
Darmstadt is notable in Korean football history as the club where legendary coach Cha Bum-kun first played in Germany. Other players like Ji Dong-won and Baek Seung-ho have also worn the Darmstadt jersey.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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