A highly-anticipated football friendly... featuring some of the best players in Korea and the world,... was held last night to the delight of many fans.<br />However, as the match went on,... a sense of disappointment reigned over the gathered spectators... as star player Ronaldo was missing in action. <br />Our Won Jung-hwan tells us more.<br />The friendly match between the K-league All-Stars and Juventus got off to an unexpectedly rocky start. <br />The game was supposed to kick off at 8 PM,… but the Italian side had their flight from China delayed and arrived at the stadium just after 8. <br />The kick-off got underway... more than 50 minutes later than originally scheduled.<br />Boos rang out from South Korean fans who were inside a packed stadium on the rainy night,… but many fans still waited patiently to greet the star players representing the Italian giants.<br />Less than 10 minutes into the game,… Spanish midfielder Osmar Barba of FC Seoul quickly gave the K-League All-Stars a one-nil lead. <br />However, Juventus answered with an equalizer just two minutes later. <br />In the dying minutes of the first half,… team K-League re-took the lead with an intricately flowing move resulting in a neat finish from Cesinha. <br />The Brazilian ran off in joy,… imitating the Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic celebration.<br />Anticipation started to build when the first half ended,... with fans and even the players expecting superstar Ronaldo to be subbed into the match. <br />"I was very impressed with the performance by K-league players in the first half, and I am very excited to see Ronaldo's play in the second half."<br />But when the second half began,… the anticipation quickly turned to bewilderment, as the 34-year old Portuguese remained glued to the bench. <br />Every time Ronaldo was caught on camera, people started chanting his name,... eager to see him on the pitch. <br />In the meantime,... one goal from the All-Stars, and two goals from Juventus in the second-half made the game 3-3. <br />But for the gathered fans, the scoreline was the least of their concerns. <br />Some fans started leaving the stadium during the second half,… and the final whistle was met with a chorus of loud boos,... with some even chanting "Messi Messi," in reference to Ronaldo's rival. <br />"I can imagine the frustration. The game itself had been delayed a lot, and the spectators were all waiting to see Ronaldo on the pitch."<br />Some fans even asked for a refund on their tickets,... citing an agreement between the match organizers and the Italian club that guaranteed an appearance by Ronaldo during the match. <br />Frustration and anger has boiled over,... not only over the absence of Ronaldo on the pitch,... but also his no-show at a fan event held just before the match, pouring cold water over what was supposed to be a marquee event.<br />Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News. <br />
