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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Jeonnam survived on the edge of the cliff.
Jeollanam-do drew 0-0 against Busan at 7 p.m. on the 21st at Gwangyang Football Stadium in the semi-playoff (semi-PO) of 「Hana Bank K League 2 2024」, and even if the top-ranked team in the regular league is tied, it won only one playoff (PO) ticket according to the regulations. In the 39th minute of the second half, the fighting spirit that overcame the numerical inferiority caused by Kim Jong-min's exit shone.
Jeonnam won the final match against Seoul E-Land 4-0 on the 9th to finish the regular league in fourth place, winning the right to host the PO home game and the top team first. Jeollanam-do made it to the PO for the first time since the second division relegation in 2018. On the other hand, Busan (ranked fifth in the regular league), which failed to be promoted after losing the promotion playoff last season, postponed its bid for promotion to next year.
In a pre-press conference, the home team Jeonnam coach Lee said, `The league and the single-round confrontation are different.' `We were not prepared to draw. I asked the players to play well as it was a home game."
Against this, head coach Cho Sung-hwan of the away team Busan said, `I think the pre-emptive loss will have a great impact on the team. He has scored two or three goals and won, but it becomes difficult if he scores the first goal. You have to concentrate on that."
The advantage is probably 'You can draw'Jeonnam. Director Lee said, `Busan will step up carefully in the beginning, but his nature will appear. As both players and coaches know they have to score, they will be aggressive one day. On the contrary, I prepared to make a good situation," he stressed. Then "The opponent will get more urgent as time goes by. I prepared to be flexible in dealing with the situation," he added.
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Coach Cho said, `It can be changed to a four-back depending on the flow or situation of the game. I prepared various plans. I will put my head together on the bench with the coach and make the right decision at the right time and produce good results with the players" raised his voice.
South Jeolla Province pulled out a 4-1-4-1 formation. Placa was the top candidate for the K League 2 Young Player Award, and Yoon Jae-seok 'Ace' Valvidia and Jo Ji-hoon Kim Gun-oh were the second candidates. Choi Won-chul defended the third term, and Kim Yong-hwan, Hong Seok-hyun, and Kim Ye-sung formed a four-back. Ryu Won-woo took over the goal. Coach Lee paid attention to Plaka's poisoning, who had been to the national team when setting up the lineup, saying, `There were injuries at the last minute. He also started because he said he was in good condition. It seemed that the use of Placa as a starter would broaden the understanding of player replacement."
Busan pulled out the card of center back Jo Woo-je, who just returned from a long-term injury. The Zowi system consists of a mobility limit and a three-top. Coach Cho said "I lack training, but I'm an experienced player. He explained the background of the surprise entry, saying, "He had a strong will and was not in a bad condition.' Mrafah, Peshin and Yuhei set up a three-top, while Kang Ji-hoon, Lim Min-hyuk, Ramas, and Kim Ryun-sung formed the midfielders. Ku Sang-min wore goalkeeper gloves. Coach Lee cautioned that `Busan has unexpectedly set up the best starting as all the injured are back.'
At the beginning of the first half, Busan's momentum was fierce. Four minutes, I got a golden chance. In a competition for an aerial ball in front of the Jeonnam goal, a high-flying ball fell in front of Uhei's foot. Yuhei's volley hit the crossbar. In the 7th minute, Kim Ryun-sung was warned when he snatched Kim Yong-hwan with his arm. Two minutes later, this time, Kim Yong-hwan made a gesture that seemed to swing his elbow toward Kim Ryun-sung. The referee returned from a VAR on-field review and pulled out a yellow card. 18 min South Jeolla Plaka's surprise long shot went over the net. 21 min Busan got a free kick in the danger zone. Ryu Won-woo saved Ramas' left foot swirling shot as a kicker.
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Busan's aggression, which had been rough, slowly subsided in the middle of the first half. The ownership of the ball was also handed over to South Jeolla Province. The first half ended without a goal.
Mrafah's shot went off the post in the second minute of the second half. Heather missed, too. Jeonnam used a replacement card first. In the fifth minute of the second half, Park Tae-yong was put out without Kim Gun-oh. In the 17th minute of the second half, Jeonnam Yoon Jae-seok attempted a right-footed mid-range shot after setting up a high ball with a difficult movement, but headed straight to the goalkeeper. Ryu Won-woo saved Ramas' shot in the 21st minute. Prior to this, Busan excluded Lim Min-hyuk, who complained of leg pain, and added Kwon Sung-yoon. In the 24th minute, Yuhei's shot went off the right side of the net. In the 27th minute, Choi Won-chul blocked Peshin's shot in front of the box by blowing himself in front of the goal. In the 30th minute of the second half, Jeollanam-do took out Yoon Jae-seok and put defender Kim Jong-pil in to protect him.
A large variable occurred in the 39th minute of the second half. Kim Jong-min, who replaced Flaka, was directly sent off for fouling in a competition for an aerial ball. Jeollanam-do, which was instantly inferior in numbers, held out for about 12 minutes, including the extra time, without losing a point. In the fifth minute of extra time in the second half, Mrafah's shot in front of the gate went off the post. Jeonnam laughed and Busan cried.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
