'A moving first victory in the club's history,' Yongin FC head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom says, "I want to sincerely apologize for taking so long." [Yongin on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Yongin FC, a new team in the K League 2, recorded a moving first victory after eight opening matches. Before the game, head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom had said, "I have been blaming myself for the prolonged winless streak," and now he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Under the leadership of head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom, Yongin defeated Gimhae 4-1 in a home match of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 9 held at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 26th. This victory ended a seven-match winless run (three draws and four losses) since the season opener, marking the club's first win in its history.

On this day, Yongin took the lead with Gabriel's opening goal just two minutes into the first half. They then added consecutive goals from Seok Hyun-jun and Kim Min-woo in the 17th and 36th minutes of the first half, respectively, securing an early advantage. With Seok Hyun-jun's goal in the fourth minute of the second half, Yongin ultimately celebrated their first win of the season with a decisive 4-1 victory.

Head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom said, "It feels like we waited too long. I want to convey to the fans that even though we won, I am truly sorry it took so long. Since last July, I have put a lot of effort into player selection. The poor results caused me great mental strain and difficult times. While not everything has been healed, I will strive to have the players bond firmly and achieve consecutive victories with strong performances, using today as a turning point."

The coach added, "Many people have waited for us. The club owner, Mayor Lee Sang-il, has also waited. Many people put in effort during the club's founding process. Many individuals related to the city worked hard during the founding process. I have been sorry for that. I felt deeply apologetic. I am sorry that the first victory came so late to our ardent supporters and the citizens who have quietly cheered for us. Today, seeing everyone celebrate so joyfully has helped heal the difficult parts we endured. I want to create more days of joy."

Head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom stated, "In fact, the players also went through very difficult times. It was my lack that prevented us from achieving results. Fortunately, the players worked hard, showed good gameplay, and brought home the results. I think Seok Hyun-jun scoring two goals is also a positive sign."

Head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom identified "desperation" as the key factor for the victory. He said, "The players tried hard to win one game for me, but the results didn't come. I also waited without putting pressure on the players and instilled positive confidence, which eventually became mutual trust and belief. Because those feelings were conveyed, I think the joy was doubled. This is a victory for everyone that everyone should enjoy. I want to give credit to all the stakeholders."

The coach remarked, "Perhaps because we couldn't win for seven games and finally did, it felt particularly urgent for me personally. If we had lost this time, we would have dropped to last place, and I wondered how I should take responsibility. Because of that sense of responsibility and weight, I felt very apologetic. If I had to name a hidden hero, it would be Kim Min-woo. He changed positions during pre-season training and showed a lot during friendly matches. He scored a goal and also provided an assist."

Continuing, head coach Choi Yoon-kyeom said, "For now, let's enjoy today, and from tomorrow, we will need to prepare for the Seongnam match. Now that we have secured our first win, I'm not sure if I should say this, but if we can maintain this winning momentum and atmosphere, I think we can aim for the eighth-place position we targeted, and even look forward to a playoff berth. If we continue winning, I believe the gap with other teams will quickly narrow."

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*This content was translated by AI.