K-League 1 Gangwon FC head coach Choi Yong-soo and Lee Woong-hee stabbed their home team, FC Seoul, and won their first win in 9 games since the opening of the season.
In the 9th round home 메이저놀이터game against Seoul held on the 26th at Songam Sports Town main stadium in Chuncheon, Gangwon won a thrilling 3-2 victory with Lee Woong-hee’s theater goal in extra time in the second half.
The match on this day was called ‘Choi Yong-soo Derby’ and attracted attention even before the match. Coach Choi led the heyday of Seoul by conquering the K-League both as an active player and as a manager.
Coach Choi faced the ironic fate of having to beat his own team in a situation where he was desperate for his first victory in the home game. Furthermore, Gangwon suffered from 3 goals in the last 8 games, while Seoul scored a goal in every game and climbed to 3rd place in the league, and a difficult game was expected.
Coach Choi said before the game that he expects the fighting spirit of defender Lee Woong-hee, who scored the goal that day, and the players who received new opportunities from the last game against Gwangju FC.
Gangwon set up a 3-4-3 formation that day, starting winger Kim Dae-won from the bench as in the previous game, and instead sending Kim Dae-woo as a starter, as a lineup that gave opportunities to players who did not play much in the previous game. Director Choi said, “If you knock on it, it won’t open. “It is my philosophy to give desperate players a chance,” he said.
On the other hand, Seoul had striker Hwang Eui-jo, who scored the first field goal in the super match against Suwon Samsung, on the bench in a 4-4-2 formation, with Willian and Ilyuchenko at the top. Seoul coach Ahn Ik-soo explained, “The lineup is designed with the physical strength of key players in mind during midweek games.”
The fighting spirit of the Gangwon players, who were more desperate, suppressed the momentum of Seoul. In the 24th minute of the first half, Gangwon shook the net first. Left winger Yang Hyeon-jun, who took the ball from under the half-line, dribbled from the side to near the goal line, gave a cutback pass to Park Sang-hyuk, and scored.
Gangwon did not rush to raise the line, and showed patience by launching an attack only in a clear counterattack situation. Seoul’s attackers changed positions frequently, causing confusion in the opponent’s defense, but Gangwon blocked Seoul’s offensive with a thorough defense that kept their position.
As soon as the second half started, Seoul replaced Ilyuchenko with Hwang Eui-jo, signaling an offensive. However, Gangwon gained momentum by scoring an additional goal in less than a minute. Hankook Young gave a pass to Jeong Seung-yong, who was penetrating from the left side of the penalty box, and Jeong Seung-yong shook the net with a left-footed shot as soon as he overcame the opponent’s defense with a single dribble. Gangwon’s first multi-goal this season.
In the 7th minute of the second half, in a corner kick situation, Sang-hyeop Im Sang-hyeop pushed the ball that the opponent defense failed to clear properly and scored a comeback goal.
In the 23rd minute of the second half, he scored another goal from a corner kick and brought the flow. Just like the déjà vu of the chase goal, Im Sang-hyeop calmly pushed the ball that the opponent’s defense could not clear properly, and this time, it was finally tied.
However, Gangwon did not back down. In the 39th minute of the second half, in a corner kick situation, Kim Young-bin’s shot slightly missed the goal, and in the 41st minute of the second half, Gallego’s shot was unfortunately blocked as it headed directly in front of the goalkeeper. Gradually aiming for the goal, he looked for an opportunity.
In the end, Gangwon’s theatrical goal came in extra time in the second half. When Gallego’s shot hit the defense and was deflected, Lee Woong-hee pushed it into the net and shook the net.
Coach Choi said after the game, “I have won many victories in my career, but today’s game will continue to be one of the most memorable.”
At the Gwangju Soccer Stadium, Jeju United defeated Gwangju, the protagonist of the promotion team, 1-0.
The match between Suwon FC and Daegu FC at Suwon Sports Complex ended in a 1-1 draw.