Director's debut, SeungKyung Ho, thumbs up! Remember this name, a college rookie who didn't have a professional team to sing multi-goal Lee Ji-ho

Feb 23, 2025

Photo courtesy=강원FC

Kangwon Director Jung Kyung-ho. Photo (Chuncheon) = Reporter Yoon Jin-man

Gangwon coach Jeong Kyung-ho, who won his debut win in his home debut, raised his thumb toward Lee Ji-ho, the leading player in the victory.

Coach Chung Kyung-ho came from behind to win 2-1 in the second round of the 「Hana Bank K League 1 2025" against Pohang at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon on the 23rd, thanks to Lee Ji-ho's tie and come-from-behind goal. "Lee Ji-ho is very prominent despite being a rookie, giving assist against Daegu. I think the name Lee Ji-ho was imprinted in today's game."

Lee Ji-ho played as a left striker in the match against Daegu and received attention for his assist to Gabriel. Lee Ji-ho, who was placed on the right side, scored an equalizer in the 43rd minute of the first half after receiving a long pass from Kim Dong-hyun in the 36th minute of the second half when he was dragged 0-1. He cleverly beat Pohang goalkeeper Hwang In-jae, who ran after emptying the goal. Two minutes into extra time in the second half, when the draw was on the horizon, he scored the come-from-behind winning goal with a sensational chip shot that passed Hwang In-jae's height.

Director Chung said, `Yang Min-hyuk has strengths in rhythm, speed, and flexibility, while Lee Ji-ho has a heavy weight that Min-hyuk does not have. They may lack flexibility and speed, but they have advantages in physical struggle, height, and penetration into the back space. They compared the advantages of Yang Min-hyuk (Queens Park Rangers) and Lee Ji-ho.

Photo courtesy=강원FC

Another strength of Lee Ji-ho is 'Desperate'. Coach Chung said, `When Lee Ji-ho gave a personal interview yesterday, he said he was desperate to come to the professional team after graduating from Korea University in the fourth grade. He felt the cold reality that there was no professional team to call him during his senior year. He said he was happy to come to Gangwon, grateful for the opportunity, desperate, and desperate. I said I'd help. I think I scored multiple goals in return," he said with a smile.

Coach Chung said, `The professional team wants a more destructive immediate sense of power, but I think Lee Ji-ho was lacking in that regard. In the future, I plan to help Ji-ho quickly adapt to the K-League by saving his back space movement and defensive positionI think that players who graduate from college in their fourth year cannot go to professional teams. You lose your dream. I wish I had a dream while looking at Lee Jiho"

Coach Chung, who was promoted from head coach in Gangwon Province to official coach this year, lost the opening match against Daegu, his debut match, 1-2. That's why I was more desperate for victory on this day. Coach Chung must have thought "After the match against Daegu, it won't be easy for Jung Kyung-ho." Rather, those thoughts motivate me. I think Gangwon is starting again from today."

Photo courtesy=강원FC

Regarding the game on this day, "The players were able to repay the fans' support thanks to their fighting spirit until the end. It was a thrilling first win for the coach. His performance was better than the match against Daegu. It is fortunate that we played with our game model, which makes it difficult for the opponent with multi-functional formation and positioning. I'm going to be able to prepare for the game with more confidence" was satisfied.

"If I scored early, I would have had a better performance. He lost a point first, but he saw the motivation the players wanted to do in the locker room at half-time. I think that's the power of Gangwon"I didn't want to lose or draw today's game. I thought about replacing Gabriel with Kovacevic in the second half, but I decided that it would be better to put him in at the same time to make the opponent difficult. It was the main thing to focus on that side," he self-praised.

For Lee Ji-ho's come-from-behind goal, a video reading system (VAR) was activated to check whether he was handballed. Director Chung said, `I tried to accept any judgment. Fortunately, it wasn't a handball, he said with a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Pohang coach Park Tae-ha, who has been mired in a four-game losing streak, including the league and the Asian Champions League, said "We are playing every three days in a difficult situation. But the physical burden is not an excuse. The atmosphere of 'Let's cheer up' has been formed, but it is not easy. I'm sorry to the fans," he shook his head.

Director Park said, `There is no problem with the internal atmosphere. Defeat today could affect the mood, but we can't sit back. The entire team should work together so that Pohang can quickly find its place. I think it's important to create an opportunity to go back in the next game as there is no time to fall."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.