The Determination Was Different
FC Seoul lost 2-3 after a slugfest against Jeonbuk Hyundai in the eighth round of the 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 at 4:30 p.m. on the 20th at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Since the start of the league, Jeonbuk has recorded nine points in two consecutive games since it had no win three draws and three losses in six games. On the other hand, Seoul has failed to advance to the upper level with two wins, three draws and three losses nine points, leaving regret. Jeonbuk was going through an eventful start to this season. Despite its lackluster performance with three draws and three losses right after the start of the season, it barely managed to secure its first win at the match against FC Gwangju 2-1 win. In the process, Dan Petrescu was sacked, and had difficulties waiting for Park Won-jae to be appointed as acting coach. Still, in the previous match against Gwangju, "young blood" Lee Jae-ik and Song Min-gyu scored their first goals of the season side by side, giving the team their first valuable win, and then winning their first consecutive game in an away match in Seoul. With this victory, Jeonbuk has maintained its absolute advantage over Seoul by recording no losses in recent 21 consecutive games 16 wins and five draws. Its last loss at the match against Seoul was on July 2, 2017 1-2 loss. On the other hand, Seoul continued to have terrible nightmares against Jeonbuk. Even this game was literally the worst game for Seoul. Seoul's prepared tactics in the first half were perfect. He allowed the opening goal in the sixth minute of the first half, but Ilyushchenko burst the header with a cross kicked by Ki Sung-yueng in the 10th minute of the first half. Starting with this goal, Seoul dominated the first half. However, it was terribly unlucky. Song Min-gyu's opening goal was also attributed to an error, but Lee Young-jae's equalizer in the 38th minute of the first half was also due to Ki's failure to properly clear the ball and cut the goal. Notably, Jeon's winning goal in the fourth minute of the second half could hardly be regarded simply as a problem for Seoul. Kim Jin-su's attempt at a bicycle kick precisely matched his fast post in a chaotic situation that followed set piece, split the goal as it was. Coach Kim Ki-dong sighed after the game, saying, "It is a goal that can be scored once a year." We were unlucky in many ways in the game. From the standpoint of fans, players and officials in Seoul, it was truly regrettable. Still, Choi Jun showed something different at the time of Palosevic's second goal. Originally, there was a famous scene where he was famous for his determination, activism and grit. In the 30th minute of the first half, Choi rushed for the ball, which was about to pass to the sideline of the Jeonbuk camp. Markman Kim Jin-su gave up catching up with the ball because it seemed obvious that it would go out, but Choi did not give up and rushed in. As he saved the ball with a bicycle, Cho Young-wook caught it and passed it to Palosevic for a goal. It was a scene where Choi's mental strength and hustle play stood out. He clearly demonstrated the reason why coach Kim Ki-dong emphasized "psychological struggle" before the game. "I emphasized determination to the players even after the first half," Kim said. "It is positive that they did not give up even after losing." Choi Jun's fighting spirit that shined even after Seoul's defeat. Attention is focusing on whether Seoul's fighting spirit, which is leading Seoul by adapting quickly among the resources recruited this time, will lead Kim Ki-dong's revival of the prestigious family.