0-2 crushing defeat to Incheon “Even if we concede a goal in the end, we have to keep beating them”

Director Lee Jung-hyo

Gwangju FC manager Lee Jung-hyo of the professional soccer K League 1 sighs every time he faces a team that is crouching with its lines down.

It would be nice to see ‘fun football’ on the field, with players hitting each other and fighting, but the more the opponent builds a defensive block at the back, the less likely that is.

Moreover, if there is no player with excellent finishing ability like Gwangju, who can be called a ‘problem solver’, even if you lead the game, you will not score, and the flow of the game will become frustrating.

Even in the midst of a rush, if the opponent quickly counterattacks or scores from a set piece while you are getting impatient, your chances of defeat only look more bleak.

That’s why Gwangju, led by coach Lee Jung-hyo, cannot smile whenever they meet Incheon United.

In the last 6 games, they have 3 draws and 3 losses. This is because Incheon, which lost 0-5 after fighting back with an attack in March last year, has been gradually crouching down and finding a solution to deal with Gwangju.

Incheon also won 2-0 in the 23rd round match against Gwangju in the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 held at the Gwangju Football Stadium on the 14th.

Gwangju tried to open Incheon’s goal by increasing their possession rate to 76% in the first 15 minutes of the game, but the game ended scoreless.

Regardless of whether they were on the wing or in the center, players tried to create shooting chances inside the penalty box by mixing short passes and crosses, but no significant opportunities came.

Coach Lee Jung-hyo, who had expressed his determination before the match by saying, “I think the players will get bored if we play against Incheon, but we will keep hitting them,” met with the press again after the loss and said, “In the end, the team that faces us will go down like that, so our homework is to exploit that.”

He said, “It’s really unfortunate. I’m trying to find a way, but it’s really unfortunate,” and “The players seem to be having a hard time. I think the players worked hard, and I don’t think they’re lying (to me) on the field.”

Soccer is a game where you increase ball possession through organized pressure and offense-defense transitions, and if you keep the ball in the opposing team’s territory for a long time and develop an attack, it is useless if you don’t score.

The coach said, “Everyone is working hard, but what’s important is whether it leads to goals or not. It seems like we’re lacking in breaking through (Incheon’s) defense.” He added, “I need to work harder myself. I think if the players work hard together, we’ll find a solution.”

Normally, a team with such poor scoring ability can just acquire a player with good finishing ability in the transfer market.

However, Gwangju, which received ‘conditional approval’ in the short-term budget review earlier this year due to failing to comply with the newly introduced financial regulations of the Korea Professional Football League, will have to enter this transfer market ’empty-handed’.

No additional player registrations are possible until the club’s actual income reaches the level stated in the budget.

The director said he would do his best under the current circumstances, including studying ways to maximize the combination of existing resources.

He emphasized, “It’s unfortunate that the results aren’t coming out as expected from the players’ efforts. Still, the players are giving it their all,” and “even if we end up conceding a goal (through a counterattack, etc.), we have to keep on going.” 파워볼사이트