South Koreans could be MLS foes for the first time

Los Angeles (AFP) – South Korean players could meet on rivals clubs for the first time in Major League Soccer on Saturday when the Seattle Sounders visit the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Seattle’s Kim Kee-hee and Vancouver’s Hwang In-beom have played every minute in each of their team’s first three matches of the campaign.

They are only the third and fourth South Korean players in MLS history after Hong Myung-Bo of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2003-04 and Vancouver’s Lee Young-Pyo in 2012-13.

Kim, a 29-year-old center back, joined Seattle last season and made 29 appearances, helping the Sounders to a second-place showing in the Western Conference, while Hwang was obtained by the Whitecaps before this season.

Kim, who helped South Korea to a 2012 London Olympic bronze medal, was attracted to Seattle after playing in China alongside former Sounders standout Obafemi Martins, who told his former MLS club to give Kim a look.

Hwang, a 22-year-old midfielder, joined Vancouver in January and played in South Korea’s friendly wins over Bolivia last week and Colombia on Tuesday.