By Pearse McLaughlin
A brace from Lee Sang-Heon sees Gangwon FC leapfrog Gimcheon Sangmu FC and are now a point clear at the top of the table. Friday night action in the K-League 1 never disappoints and this top of the table clash ensures the title race continues as Gangwon FC are now in pole position to go on and win this league by making it three wins on the bounce.
It’s as you were for Jung Jeong-Yong and Gimcheon Sangmu FC as they stick with their tried and trusted 4-3-3 formation that has served well throughout the K-League 1 campaign so far with no personnel changes to note. It’s the exact same team that won last timeout away to last season’s Korean Cup winners in Pohang Steelers by two goals to one.
Gangwon FC boss, Yoon Jong-Hwan has kept with the same formation in his familiar 4-4-2 formation that saw his side triumph 4-2 last time out at home to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. In terms of personnel changes there’s only the one as Cho Jin-Hyuk drops out for Franko Kovacevic in what is otherwise an unchanged team.
First half chance of the game fell the way of the visitors as Franko Kovacevic pounced on a loose ball in behind the backline of Gimcheon Sangmu FC and flashed a shot low and hard across goal as it just went a whisker wide of the left hand post.
Breakthrough for Gimcheon Sangmu FC on the 35th minute as Kim Young-Bin unfortunately turned the ball into his own net trying to block Kim Dae-Won’s low cross. the goal came about through a long raking pass from Park Chan-Yong as he picked out Kim Dae-Won perfectly ghosted in behind Lee Gi-Hyuk who himself was caught ball watching. Not a great look for the full back. The low cross caused havoc inside the six-yard-box as Park Chan -Yong had to get something on it to stop it from tapped in at the back post from Park Sang-Hyeok but unfortunately got too much on it and diverted it into his own net. First blood Gimcheon.
Equalizer in the second of four minutes added on at the end of the first half as Lee Sang-Heon taps the ball home from a few yards out. Terrific play down the right side by Hwang Mun-Ki as he gets to the byline and digs out a cross which Kim Dong-Heon makes a hash off it and fails to gather the ball and is punished big time for his mistake. The on-loan Spurs winger, Yang Min-Hyuk was the first to pounce on Kim Dong-Heon’s mistake as he fires the ball across the six-yard-box for Lee Sang-Heon to tap the ball into the net. 1-1 game on.
We go in level at the break courtesy of an own goal by Kim Young-Bin and a late equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time as Lee Sang-Heon made sure that the sides went in at the break level. A sucker punch of a goal to concede for Gimcheon Sangmu FC as they were just two minutes away from going in at the break level but for a late equalizer. Upon reflection I would say both sides deserve to go in at half time level as there wasn’t a great deal of clear cut chances for either side with it being a very end-to-end affair with a real lack of quality on show.
What a turn around as Gangwon now lead 2-1 on the 65th minute and it’s that man again, Lee Sang-Heon with a wonder goal. Following an outswinging corner kick from the left hand side the second phase of the corner sees the ball bounce up invitingly for Lee Sang-Heon as he volleys a loopy volley into the top left hand corner from the edge of the box as he’s leaning back. Brilliant vision and technique by the Gangwon forward. There was a VAR check as there was a Gangwon FC player behind the goalkeeper in an offside position but wasn’t interfering with play and the goal stands. Correct decision in my opinion as the referee sticks with his original decision. Gangwon lead 2-1.
After a late flurry of attempts on the Gangwon goal they defended manfully and through bodies on the line and protected their lead as they clung on to win the match 2-1. This is Gangwon FC’s first victory over their title rivals this season as they lost the previous encounters each by the solitary goal.
Up next for Gimcheon Sangmu FC is an away trip on Friday the 16th of August to face a tricky opponent in Daegu FC as they will look to bounce back immediately to ensure they don’t further dampen their title aspirations.
Gangwon FC host Gwangju FC nine days from now on Sunday the 18th of August with the match set for a 7pm (KST) kick off time. This will be a very tough opponent to face as Gwangju FC have themselves won 4 games on the bounce and unbeaten in their last 5. Gangwon FC will take confidence in beating the league leaders, Gimcheon Sangmu FC into their next match versus Gwangju FC where both sides have a win apiece this season against each other. All set for another blockbuster of a match in the K-League 1.
Gimcheon Sangmu: Kim Dong-Heon, Kim Kang-San, Park Seung-Wook, Park Chan-Yong, Park Soo-Il, Kim Bong-Soo, Yoo Kang-Hyun (Lee Dong-Gyeong 46’), Seo Min-Woo, Mo Jae-Hyeon (Lee Dong-Jun 57’), Park Sang-Hyeok (Kim Chan 75’), Kim Dae-Won (Choi Gi-Yun 85’). Subs not used: Joung Myung-Jae, Park Dae-Won, Kim Min-Deok, Oh In-Pyo, Lee Jin-Yong.
Gangwon FC: Lee Kwang-Yeon, Hwang Mun-Ki, Marko Tuci, Kim Young-Bin (Song Jun-Seok 78’), Lee Gi-Hyuk, Yang Min-Hyuk (Kim Kyeong-Min 46’), Lee You-Hyeon, Kim Dong-Hyun (Kim Kang-Guk 78’), Yu In-Soo (Shin Min-Ha 86’), Cho Jin-Hyuk, Lee Sang-Heon (Jin Jun-Seo 86’). Subs not used: Park Chung-Hyo, Yun Suk-Young, Henry Hore, Irfan Hadzic.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
Yorumlar