By Pearse McLaughlin
It’s as you were as Gwangju FC are held at Gwangju Football Stadium to a stalemate by Gangwon FC. This result sees Gwangju FC drop from 4th position in the table to 5th as Daejeon Hana Citizen has overtaken them. Gangwon FC remain in 11th place and are still winless this season.
On the 10th minute of the game the first half chance of the game fell to the home side. It was good initial play by Jasir Asani who cuts inside from the right flank before he switches the play across to the left-hand side where Lee Min-Gi then chops inside on his right foot before trying to curl an effort into the far corner, but Lee Gwang-Yeon was equal to it with a fine stop.
A mere 3 minutes later and it is one central defender playing it to another as Timo Letschert plays a raking ball beautifully over the Gangwon backline, but it was a tame finish from the Aussie Aaron Calver. Timo Letschert collects the ball on the halfway line before curling a ball over the top of the defence and with Lee Gwang-Yeon coming out to close the angle Aaron Calver panicked and his finish lacked real conviction as the goalkeeper gathers the ball comfortably. Big let off for Gangwon.
First sighting of goal for the visitors came on the 32nd minute as Han Kook-Young tried his luck from distance. It all started just to the right of the halfway line as Kim Dae-Woo chips the ball in between two Gwangju players before Yang Hyun-Jun pulls off a terrific piece of skill and backheel flicks the ball into the path of Park Sang-Hyeok who then plays a through ball to Han Kook-Young but his effort curls wide of the left-hand post. It was an audacious attempt from all of 30 yards out and was probably served better by driving at the Gwangju defence who looked all over the place.
Both sides go into the break all square and you can’t really argue with that score line as both sides haven’t created any clear-cut chances to break the deadlock. You can tell why both teams usually draw against each other as they have drawn 9 out of the last 21 match ups with the last one being in post-split fixture of the 2021 K-league 1 season.
First major talking point of the second half came in the 79th minute as VAR correctly ruled out Aaron Calver’s goal for offside. It was a delicious ball into the box by Gwangju FC’s player of the season so far Jasir Asani from a free kick whipped in from the left-hand channel and Aaron Calver bulleted the ball into the top left-hand corner leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. It was a great set piece routine, but Aaron Calver went a fraction too early and the offside spares Gangwon FC’s blushes.
Into the 3rd of the 4 additional minutes added on at the end of the game the best chance fell to Gangwon FC and Yang Hyun-Jun squandered a golden opportunity to snatch all 3 points and give his side their first win of the season. In an effort to claim all three points Gwangju FC left themselves exposed at the back and a quick breakaway from Gangwon FC was dangerous as Yang Hyun-Jun played a one two with Kim Dae-Won who put the ball on a plate for him and all Yang Hyun-Jun had to do was pick a spot, but he fired straight at the grateful Kim Kyung-Min. Should have been the winner! Massive opportunity squandered!
Next up for Gwangju FC is another home match on Wednesday the 26th of April where they will be looking to bounce back to winning ways against a struggling Jeju United.
Next up for is a home match on Wednesday the 26th of April where they will take on high flying FC Seoul who occupy second spot in the table. Gangwon FC will be looking to take anything from this game as FC Seoul are a tougher outfit this year.
Gwangju FC: Kim Kyung-Min, Kim Han-Gil, Aaron Calver, Timo Letschert, Lee Min-Gi (Doo Hyun-Seok 68’), Jasir Asani, Lee Kang-Hyun (Jeong Ho-Yeon 46’), Lee Soon-Min, Jung Ji-Hun (Ha Seung-Un 46’), Yool Heo (Sandro Lima 46’), Lee Hui-Gyun (Park Han-Bin 76’). Subs not used: Ahn Young-Kyu, Lee Jun.
Gangwon FC: Lee Gwang-Yeon, Lee Woong-Hee, Kim Young-Bin, Yun Suk-Young, Yu In-Soo (Rim Chang-Woo 90’), Han Kook-Young, Seo Min-Woo, Jung Seung-Yong, Kim Dae-Woo (Kim Dae-Won 68’), Park Sang-Hyeok (Dino Islamovic 68’), Yang Hyun-Jun. Subs not used: Yu Sang-Hun, Kang Ji-Hoon, Cho Jin-Hyuk, Lee Seung-Won
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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