Gwangju, unshakable despite the exit of the water bottle kick, escaped winless with a theater goal
Apr 06, 2025
|
On this day, Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo settled in the stands, not on the bench. The reason was that he was sent off after kicking a water bottle to his bench at the end of the sixth round against Daejeon Hana Citizen. There was also an opinion that manager Lee, who could not beat Boone, should have endured it, but there was controversy over whether the referee's decision to apply an exit that was not in the regulations was right. However, the decision was not overturned, and coach Lee had no choice but to watch the match against Jeju from the stands.
It's a big blow to Gwangju, which has a busy way to go. In the previous match against Daejeon (1-1 draw), Pohang Steelers (2-3 losses), and Gimcheon Sangmu (0-0 draw), they did not win in three games. Gwangju, which has to play a tight schedule through the K League 1 and the Korea Cup before participating in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) quarterfinals tournament at the end of this month, should focus on earning as many points as possible. Lee's absence, which can be a plus factor not only in tactics and operations but also in his presence on the bench, was bound to increase anxiety.
|
|
Lee's absence did not shake Gwangju. Gwangju put pressure on Jeju based on its dominant share. He aimed for an opportunity in the Jeju camp based on the active breakthrough of Oh Soo-sung Asani, who was on the left and right sides, and targeting the back space of defense. However, Jeju faced off with goalkeeper Kim Dong-joon's good defense and counterattack, and the flow was tight.
In the second half, Gwangju actively chose to change. Starting with Byun Jun-su's Choi Kyung-rok, Ha Seung-woon and Kim Han-gil stepped on the ground in turn. However, Jeju's goal, which Kim Dong-joon endured, was hardly likely to be penetrated. Early in the second half, Byun Jun-su and Choi Kyung-rok seemed to heat up the atmosphere by recording effective shots, but the flow returned to a lull as Jeju's pressure revived. So the game seemed to end in a draw.
But the goddess of victory smiled at Gwangju. Hayes, who played in Jeju until last year, opened the net with a left-footed shot in a one-on-one situation with Kim Dong-joon, who won a long pass in the 45th minute of the second half after overcoming a defensive contest. He wrote the best ending of 1-0 Gwangju's victory and successful escape without victory despite director Lee's absence.
Coach Ma said after the game, "I trained well with the coach for a week. I unfolded well as I prepared, and I was able to finish in a good mood." At the same time, he smiled "I felt that the position of director was amazing.'
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
