FC Seoul has rebounded ahead of its ‘big match’ against Ulsan HD. Seoul snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Suwon FC in the 10th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 at Suwon Sports Complex on March 30.
Kim Ki-dong, the “Maneuvering Magic” coach, took the helm of Seoul this season. Expectations were high. However, the team faltered at the back and took a heavy step. They conceded the game with a ridiculous goal. Seoul lost 2-4 to the Pohang Steelers, 2-3 to Jeonbuk Hyundai, and 1-3 to Daejeon Hana Citizens. They had conceded a whopping 10 goals in the three matches prior to the Suwon FC match. Kim changed things up against Suwon FC. He put the emphasis on defense. “I didn’t think that Seoul would drop to that level,” said Suwon FC head coach Kim Eun-joong after their four-game winning streak ended. The players panicked and struggled,” Kim said. While there was a concept of rotation, Suwon FC decided to use four U-22 players (Kang Sung-jin, Park Sung-hoon, Hwang Do-yoon, Lee Tae-seok) in the starting lineup.
The power of veterans was also big.
Ki Sung-yong, the “35-year-old captain,” shined in crunch time. Seoul took the lead in the 43rd minute through Kim Shin-jin. 카지노사이트 When Seoul needed a late goal, Ki Sung-yong came through. In the 20th minute of the second half, he received a pass from Kim Hyun-gyeom and fired a trademark mid-range cannonball into the back of the net. It was the wedge that split the difference. With 12 points (W3 D3 L4), Seoul still has a long way to go, but they’ve laid the groundwork for a comeback. They are currently seventh in the standings.
“We made mistakes in the offense because we were in a hurry, and I told us to focus on the defense,” said Ki Sung-yong, who played the full game. We won without conceding a goal,” he said, adding, “Whenever Suwon comes, goals come, and I scored two goals here last year.” He added, “I always try to be bold in offensive chances. If I get the chance, I try to hit more mid-range shots from the opponent’s defense. Since I came to FC Seoul, three goals is the most I have scored in a season, but I will try to surpass it,” he smiled. Ki Sung-yong is also a hill to climb for Kim. “I’m asking him to play the whole season,” Kim said before the game, “He’s the mental support, the ground commander, the one who holds the center of the field and does what I can’t do on the field. He has a lot of experience and can guide the younger players well. He plays a lot of roles, which is why I keep using him,” Kim said.
Ki Sung-yong responded to Kim’s
Suggestion to play the entire match by saying, “I wonder if the coach is trying to lower my performance. I’m kidding,” he laughed, before adding, “It’s not easy when you’re 35 years old and you’ve been playing. It’s a challenge for me too. But I will try to give the team as much strength as I can,” he added.
All eyes are now on Ulsan. Seoul will host Ulsan on April 4, looking for their third straight K League 1 victory. Ilyuchenko and Palousevic came on as second-half substitutes. Willian was included on the substitutes list but did not take the field. Despite the injury setback, Seoul was able to rest some of its key attacking resources, giving them some breathing room.
Kim said, “It’s important to have the strength to endure this when the injured come back and the team gets better. We have to keep going. It’s home, so we have to be ready to face the full force. Ulsan is a strong team, but soccer is a game with variables. That’s why the fans cheer and love it. We will prepare while expecting those variables,” he emphasized.
Ulsan came from behind to win 2-1 against Daegu on the first day.
After conceding an early goal to Daegu’s Park Yong-hee in the 34th minute, Kang Yoon-gu equalized in the 43rd minute with his first goal of the season. Then, in the 37th minute, Choi Kang-min connected with Seol Young-woo’s cross for his professional debut.
With their fourth straight win, Ulsan moved from third to second place with 20 points (W6 D2 L1). With one less game due to their Asian Champions League (ACL) schedule, 안전놀이터 they are one point behind leader Pohang (21-6 W, 3-3-1 D). Third-place Gimcheon (20-6 W2 D2 L2) has a goal difference advantage.
“It’s Seoul’s home game, and we won the last round, so the team’s mood has improved a lot. We just finished. We will prepare well for the next two days and go out to play,” he added.