'0-2→3-2'Leading Gangwon, with three headers, it's time to shout 'First win of the foundation'

By Jinman, Yoon

Aug 18, 2024

'0-2→3-2'Leading Gangwon, with three headers, it's time to shout 'First win of the foundation'

photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

On the 18th, 'Three Things' appeared at Gangneung Stadium, where the 27th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2024" between Gangwon and Gwangju was held. A full moon, round like a soccer ball, lit up the stadium. Famous soccer YouTuber 'Gamst' presented 'control tower ceremony' as a poet. He shouted "Winning Gangwon" and drew loud cheers from the home crowd. In time for the start of the game, national soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo appeared in the VIP seat of the stands. Coach Hong, who was present with coach Kim Jin-kyu, watched the game after greeting Kim Byung-ji, CEO of Gangwon, who collaborated on the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinal. Gangwon coach Yoon Jung-hwan predicted that Hong would watch Yang Min-hyuk and midfielder Kim Dong-hyun 'High School Special'. In Gwangju, Jung Ho-yeon, a top K-League midfielder, returned from a one-game card disciplinary action and was listed in the starting lineup. Gwangju coach Lee Jung-hyo said, "We have been preparing to draw Gangwon's powerful firepower to calm down. We will see how long Gangwon will put pressure on it."threaten " Coach Yoon, who appeared in a newly selected suit, countered that Gangwon was not as good as last year, when it became a sensation. On this day, 13,170 people visited the stadium, the most spectators ever in Gangwon's home stadium. It was not a showdown between the championship or relegation competitors, and it was not a local derby, but the atmosphere of the stadium heated up even before the game.

photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

It was the away team Gwangju that led the atmosphere at the beginning of the game. Gwangju focused on Gangwon's left side and back space. Gwangju striker Lee Kun-hee earned Lee Ki-hyuk's penalty kick foul. In the 14th minute of the first half, Asani was the kicker and scored the first goal with his left foot. Seven minutes later, Asani received a pass from the right side of the opponent's penalty box and attempted to shoot with his right foot, scoring an additional goal. It was deflected off Kang's foot and corrected to Kang's own goal. The Gangwon bench looked embarrassed. Coach Yoon replaced Yoo In-su Yoon Seok-young with Cho Jae-hyuk and Song Joon-seok in the 25th minute of the first half, even before the cooling break was conducted. Gwangju's target point, the left line, was fixed. Gangwon, which gave up two goals first, began to drive with the unilateral support of the home crowd on its back. Gwangju goalkeeper Kim Kyung-min saved Lee Sang-hun's header and Kim Dong-hyun's mid-range shot one after another. However, in the third minute of extra time in the first half, Kovacevic connected Kang's cross with a header to open the Gwangju goal. Kovacevic, who gained momentum, scored Hwang Moon-ki's cross once again with a header in the fifth minute of the second half, bringing the game back to square one. He joined Gangwon last summer and scored three goals in three games since his K-League debut.

photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association

The final winner of the 90-minute hot blood clot was Gangwon. Gangwon scored a come-from-behind goal in the 29th minute of the second half. Henry, an Australian midfielder from Gangwon, shook the net with a header that stabbed the corner of the goal in a corner kick four minutes into the substitution. Henry, who joined Kovacevic last summer, scored his K-League debut goal in front of a home crowd. There are no three points to earn. Before Henry's goal, Lee Kwang-yeon hit Asani's shot in a one-on-one situation. Gwangju Lee Hee-kyun's shot hit the post. Yang Min-hyuk missed a decisive chance in the 33rd minute of the second half in front of Hong, but it did not affect the outcome of the game. The final score was 3-2. Gangwon solidified its lead by winning its second four consecutive games of the season by combining Jeju (4-0), Jeonbuk (4-2), and Gimcheon (2-1). It added three points on the day to score 50 points, widening the gap between the second-place Gimcheon (46 points) to four points. Coach Yoon said it is premature to mention the championship with more than 10 games left before the final game of the season, but expectations for his first championship are growing as the season approaches its end. Another factor that makes Gangwon fans smile is that Gimcheon, Ulsan, and Pohang, who were second to fourth in the same round, lost side by side. Gwangju (37 points), which missed its first four consecutive wins, remained in seventh place.

yoonjinman@sportschosun.com

'0-2→3-2'Leading Gangwon, with three headers, it's time to shout 'First win of the foundation'

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