'Undefeated Finish + Two Red Cards' Gimpo FC Coach Ko Jeong-won Suffers Defeat Against Seoul E: "The Difference in Decisiveness Was Significant... Ultimately, It's My Responsibility" [Mokdong Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Ko Jeong-won (60), head coach of Gimpo FC, expressed his regret after losing to Seoul E.

On the 3rd at 2 p.m., Gimpo played an away match against Seoul E at the main stadium of Mokdong Comprehensive Sports Complex in the 10th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 2 2026' and lost 1-2.

Gimpo, whose undefeated streak of five matches (one win, four draws) came to an end, now sits in sixth place with 13 points (three wins, four draws, two losses). Seoul E remains in third place with 19 points (six wins, one draw, three losses).

Gimpo fell behind early in the first half after conceding the opening goal but did not lose focus. In the 39th minute of the first half, Luane converted his first effective shot into a goal, leveling the score. Riding the momentum, Gimpo brought on Luis and then Lee Hak-min at the start of the second half, tightening their attack and seeking a comeback while maintaining a favorable flow.

However, a painful handball foul in the late stages of the second half proved to be a major setback. Although goalkeeper Son Jeong-hyun saved one penalty kick (PK) from the opponent, a second PK was awarded due to the referee's decision, ultimately conceding the winning goal. During the 18th minutes of added time, the team lost its composure, and both Luane and goalkeeper Son Jeong-hyun received red cards in succession, compounding the worst-case scenario.

In the post-match press conference, Coach Ko Jeong-won said, "We struggled through four recent draws, and it seems the difference ultimately came down to decisiveness," expressing deep regret.

He added, "To climb into the upper ranks, we need the ability to score, and we are weak in that area. That is also my responsibility as coach." Regarding defensive concentration, he stated, "Although the opponent is an aggressive team and we managed to defend well, we conceded goals from set pieces and counterattacks. Scenes that should not have happened occurred, and I apologize to the fans and Gold Crew (Gimpo FC supporters)."

However, he attributed the revived performance in the second half to tactical adjustments. He explained, "We instructed our team to play man-to-man in response to the opponent's tactical changes. Instead of playing horizontally in midfield, we positioned ourselves vertically. The difference in performance compared to the first half was that Park Dong-jin created a 3-on-3 situation in the forward area."

He also expressed regret over the unnecessary red cards in the final moments. Coach Ko Jeong-won said, "Luane needs to restrain his emotions. Since it was clearly his own mistake, he must control his mindset himself." He continued, "Although we are in a difficult situation with two players sent off, we will manage the situation well and prepare to win the next match."

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*This content was translated by AI.