Players collapsed in the rain after the game…Suwon FC and Gwangju were desperate to ‘escape with a draw’
As the final whistle blew, players from both teams collapsed on the rainy field, as both teams fought to escape with a draw.
On the 22nd, Gwangju defeated Suwon FC 1-0 in the 24th round of the Hana WonQ K League 2023 at Suwon Sports Complex. Gwangju escaped a four-match winless streak in the league, while Suwon FC remained winless in eight league games.
It was an important matchup for both teams. Suwon hadn’t won in their last seven league games. With two draws and five defeats, they have accumulated just two points. Meanwhile, the gap between them and Gangwon FC and Suwon Samseong continued to shrink.
Gwangju’s situation wasn’t much better. They haven’t won in four league games. They had to settle for draws against Gangwon and Daegu despite scoring first. At the end of round 23, sixth-placed Gwangju needed to turn things around, as fifth-placed Daegu (33 points) and ninth-placed Incheon United (30 points) were in a tight race for a Final A spot.
It was Gwangju who did just that. Gwangju held on to a fantastic volley from Doo Hyun-seok in the 43rd minute to secure their first win in a long time. After the game, Gwangju head coach Lee Jung-hyo said, “Today’s game was a victory for our players. I’m very proud and proud of them,” he said after the game.
But it was a game that could have gone either way. The players never stopped running and attacking despite the slippery field due to the pouring rain. Defensively, they did everything in their power to stop the ball, even slipping on the damp grass. For 90 minutes, they gave everything they had to win.
When the final whistle blew, players collapsed on the field in a heap. Both teams were desperate to escape with a draw, but neither team had anything to smile about. With a jubilant Gwangju behind them, Suwon FC could only look forward to the next game. 메이저놀이터
With the win, Gwangju stayed one point ahead of their rivals. In a match played on the same day, Daegu lost 0-1 to Daejeon Hana Citizens to move up to fifth place in the standings. With their next opponent being a ranked opponent, they can look beyond fifth place with a win.
Suwon FC’s next game is the Suwon Derby, a match that will be crucial to breaking their winless streak. Suwon Samseong won their last match against Gangwon 2-1 to move up to 11th place. Suwon FC can’t rest easy either. If they lose, they’ll drop to 10th place and slip further down the table. They need a win to not only escape with a draw, but also to gain an advantage in the relegation battle.