By Pearse McLaughlin
A brilliant second half performance from Gwangju FC saw them score four goals as they completed a fantastic comeback and win by four goals to two over Gangwon FC here at the Gwangju Football Stadium. A brace from supersub Gabriel Tigrao, Lee Kun-Hee and Choi Kyoung-Rok completed the scoring in this six goal thriller which now sees Gwangju FC remain top of the K-League 1 as they make it two wins from two at the start of the new season.
Lee Jung-Hyo has stuck with his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation which saw his Gwangju FC side triumph over FC Seoul by two goals to nil last time out. In terms of personnel changes there have been just the two changes as in comes Park Tae-Joon and Eom Ji-Sung to replace Gabriel Tigrao and Choi Kyoung-Rok.
Yoon Jong-Hwan has changed from the 4-4-2 formation that saw his Gangwon FC side draw 1-1 last time out and has now gone with the 4-3-3 formation as he is looking for an extra body in midfield. In terms of personnel changes there have been three as in comes Park Chung-Hyo, Yu In-Soo, and Lee You-Hyeon to replace Lee Kwang-Yeon, Galego, and Vitor Gabriel.
Gangwon FC take an early lead after only two minutes thanks to their teenage superstar Yang Min-Hyuk as he bends a terrific shot from distance right into the top right hand corner. Yang Min-Hyuk drives straight at the heart of the Gwangju FC defence and curls the ball straight into the top right hand corner leaving Kim Kyeong-Min with absolutely no chance. What a finish. Pick that one out. Gangwon FC take an early lead here to stun the hosts. 1-0 to the visitors.
With 15 minutes gone in the game Hwang Mun-Ki spurns a glorious opportunity to put Gangwon FC two nil up as he blazes over from close range. It all came from Gangwon’s high counterpress that saw Jeong Ho-Yeon become dispossessed on the edge of his own 18-yard-box by Yu In-Soo who then squares it across the box to the unmarked Hwang Mun-Ki but he balloons the ball over the bar. Massive mistake and chance missed. Will this come back to bite Gangwon FC? It was a major opportunity to make it 2-0 early on but they blew it.
Only a couple of minutes later, saw Marko Turi’s header hit the crossbar and go behind following a corner whipped in by Kim Kang-Guk from the left hand side. Kim Kyeong-Min appeared stranded and thought it was floating over the bar but it looped and crashed off the crossbar before going behind for a goal kick. Gangwon FC flexing their muscles in the early stages and in total control at the moment.
On the 20th minute mark we see Gwangju FC create there first clear cut opportunity as Eom Ji-Sung squares up Lee You-Hyeon 1 v 1, goes to the by-line and picks out Lee Heui-Kyun brilliantly on the penalty spot but as he opens his foot and tried to guide the ball into the far right hand corner he gets it all wrong and it goes well off the mark. Great move by Gwangju FC just a shame the finish didn’t match the move. Better play by Gwangju as they ease their way back into the game.
Half an hour into the game sees Jeong Ho-Yeon forces a brilliant stop from Park Chung-Hyo as he looked to pick out the boots right hand corner. Jeong Ho-Yeon’s curling effort was well saved by Park Chung-Hyo as the ball was shaping towards the bottom right corner from the edge of the box after a few blocked shots towards goal but Park Chung-Hyo was equal to it with a fine stop. It remains 1-0 to the away side.
Again Gwangju FC are the architects of their own downfall on the 35th minute as they got caught in possession yet again just outside their box again but this time it was Lee Sang-Heon who failed to find the back of the net. But all credit has to go to Kim Kyeong-Min for coming out, making himself big, closing the angle down, and smothering the ball with a fine save. Gangwon’s high press is causing Gwangju FC all sorts of problems. It somehow still remains 1-0 to Gangwon FC.
Into the second minute of added time at the end of the first half which Gwangju FC have their best chance of the game by far and it fell to Lee Kun-Hee but he blazed over when it looked like it was going to be a certain equalizer. Lee Kun-Hee has the goal at his mercy as he has time to bring the ball down inside the box before trying to pick out the top right hand corner but it sails a few yards high and wide of the mark. An absolute sitter as that was THE chance to equalize but it still remains 1-0.
Gangwon FC lead 1-0 over Gwangju FC here at the Gwangju Football Stadium thanks to Yang Min-Hyuk’s wonder goal in the opening stages of the game. Gangwon FC’s game plan has been spot on as their high counterpress has forced Gwangju FC to go long and when they haven’t gone long they’ve been caught in possession and nearly been punished for it on a few occasions. Gwangju FC haven’t been at their best and will need to raise their level if they are to get anything from this game. As for Gangwon FC they’ll be looking for more of the same as they look to potentially add to their slender lead. Regardless, it’s set for an enthralling second half where we will see an exciting conclusion to this match.
Only a mere four minutes into the second half and Gabriel Tigrao is beginning to make a name for himself as he’s now made it 2 goals into as many games. A superb left footed shot low and hard straight into the bottom left hand corner following Eom Ji-Sung’s cutback. It was brilliant direct play yet again from Eom Ji-Sung as he goes to the by-line and fires a dangerous low cross which Gabriel Tigrao ran onto and dispatched expertly. Gwangju FC 1 Gangwon FC 1. Game on.
Gwangju FC take the lead in the match for the very first time on the 62nd minute thanks to Lee Kun-Hee’s instinctive finish from close range. Lee You-Hyeon and Marko Tuci get in a mix up at the back which sees Lee Kun-Hee nip in infront of the goalkeeper and knock the ball underneath him and trickles its way into the back of the net. Not the best finish you are likely to see but an important one as it puts Gwangju into the lead for this first time today. Gwangju FC lead 2-1.
On the 65th minute a penalty is awarded to Gangwon FC after Lee Sang-Heon is fouled by Alexandar Popovic. There was no debate by the officials is Lee Sang-Heon was completely wiped out by Alexandar Popovic as he was bearing down on goal. Clumsy challenge by Alexandar Popovic who isn’t having the greatest of games. Lee Sang-Heon assumes responsibility and slots it beyond Kim Kyeong-Min who did guess correctly but it was placed just beyond him and into the back of the net. It’s now all square at 2-2. What an electrifying start to the second half from both sides.
Gwangju FC regain their lead on the 74th minute through Gabriel Tigrao’s bullet header which flies straight into the top left hand corner. It’s that man again as Gabriel bullets a header into the top left hand corner following Jeong Ho-Yeon’s inch perfect cross from the right wing into the centre of the six-yard-box and this goal puts Gwangju FC back into the lead. An outrageous leap and finish from the young Brazilian forward as he bags his brace and he still has 15 minutes plus stoppage time to maybe go and grab a hattrick. 3-2 Gwangju FC.
Yuta Kamiya is millimetres away from an equalizer on the 85th minute as he cuts in from the left wing and tries to curls a right footed curling shot into the top right hand corner but it just flashes over the crossbar. Terrific effort from Yuta Kamiya and it would have been some goal had he pulled it off. A warning sign from Gangwon FC that this game is far from over.
In the sixth minute of added on time at the end of the game and VAR are looking at a possible penalty for a foul on Eom Ji-Sung and it is given after a quick VAR check shows us that Marko Tuci elbowed Eom Ji-Sung. Choi Kyoung-Rok steps up and assumes responsibility for the penalty kick and slots the ball into the bottom left hand corner and sends the keeper the wrong way. An emphatic penalty by Choi Kyoung-Rok. Gwangju FC put the game out of sight and lead the game by four goals to two.
It’s all over here as Gwangju FC beat Gangwon FC 4-2. It was a game of two of halves as Gangwon FC dominated the first half and led 1-0 at halftime but in the second half we saw a completely different Gwangju FC as the changed personnel and won the match 4-2. It was an end to end match and both sides can be proud of their efforts as it was a great advert for the K-League 1 as it ends in a six goal thriller.
Next up for Gwangju FC is their first away game of the season as they face last season’s Korean FA Cup winners, Pohang Steelers on Sunday the 17th of March with the match set for a 2pm kick off time (KST). Gwangju FC will be looking to carry on their rich vein of form as they look to continue their 100 percent record in the league so far but Pohang Steelers will be a tricky opposition to face.
Next up for Gangwon FC is another away game but this time they travel away to face Daejeon Hana Citizen on Saturday the 16th of March where they are still in search of their first win of the season with the match set for a 2pm kick off time (KST).
Gwangju FC: Kim Kyeong-Min, Doo Hyeon-Seok, Ahn Young-Kyu (Byeon Jun-Soo 88’), Alexandar Popovic, Kim Jin-Ho, An Hyeok-Joo (Gabriel Tigrao 25’), Park Tae-Joon (Choi Kyoung-Rok 46’), Jeong Ho-Yeon, Eom Ji-Sung, Lee Kun-Hee (Yool Heo 77’), Lee Heui-Kyun (Oh Hye-Seong 77’). Subs not used: Jun Lee, Lee Sang-Gi, Lee Kang-Hyeon, Ha Seung-Un.
Gangwon FC: Park Chung-Hyo, Lee You-Hyeon, Marko Tuci, Lee Gi-Hyuk, Yun Suk-Young, Kim Kang-Guk, Hwang Mun-Ki (Galego 68’), Kim Yi-Seok, Yang Min-Hyuk (Jo Hyun-Tae 88’), Lee Sang-Heon (Vitor Gabriel 68’), Yu In-Soo (Yuta Kamiya 78’). Subs not used: Lee Kwang-Yeon, Lee Ji-Sol, Kang Ji-Hun, Song Jun-Seok, Kim Dae-Woo.
Referee: Choi Hyun-Jae
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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