'Direct red card' Yazan, Coach Kim Ki-dong instead offered support: "He came to apologize after the match; it seemed like a slip, not intentional" [Sangam]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ki-dong (54), FC Seoul coach, supported Yazan (30), who received a direct red card.

Seoul drew 0-0 against Anyang in the 12th round of the '2026 Hana Bank K League 1' home match held at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on the 5th.

As a result, both teams shared one point each. Seoul maintained the top spot with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses), holding a 5-point lead over second-place Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (21 points). Anyang, which secured a draw away, sits in seventh place with 15 points (3 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses).

For Seoul, this match was fortunate in that they avoided defeat by demonstrating defensive concentration despite the early red card setback. In the early stages of the match, Seoul faced a major crisis when key defender Yazan received a direct red card in the 36th minute of the first half.

Fortunately, Seoul withstood Anyang's attacks with tenacious defense despite being a man down. In the second half, they brought on Moon Sun-min and Anderson to look for counterattacks. In the 35th minute of the second half, 2007-born Kim Kang was sent off, resulting in a 10-on-10 situation. Although they pressed until stoppage time, they ultimately failed to score the winning goal.

At the post-match press conference, Coach Kim Ki-dong said, "Although the red card left some regret, our tactical changes in the second half worked well despite being a man down. I want to praise the players for holding on until the end and finishing the match scoreless. It is regrettable that we failed to capitalize on late chances, but the positive factor of showing such resilience will play an important role in the remaining league matches."

Regarding Yazan's direct red card in the first half, he expressed trust and support for the player. Coach Kim Ki-dong stated, "As soon as the match ended, Yazan came to me and apologized, saying he was sorry. However, I do not think it was the player's fault. It seems like a situation that occurred because he slipped while trying his best and lost control. It was not intentional. Instead, I told him that he tried hard and should forget about it, rest well, and play a central role when he returns."

His handling of the situation while a man down was also well-received. Coach Kim Ki-dong explained, "The coaches suggested lowering the defensive line to stabilize, but I was concerned that lowering the line would actually open up the central space. I instructed the defensive midfielder not to drop the line but to maintain a '4-4-1' formation and firmly block the center first. Even if we allowed crosses from the wings, our preparation to block the center and prepare for open space behind was well-timed."

He also cautiously shared his views on the incident where Anyang's rookie Kim Kang was sent off for provoking spectators in the late second half. Avoiding direct mention of the player, Coach Kim Ki-dong said, "Emotions can inevitably escalate inside the stadium, but patience to restrain anger and exercise self-control is essential for a player even amidst competitive spirit. I have always emphasized to our players that they must show fans a demeanor of restraining their emotions."

Finally, he highly evaluated the draw achieved while fighting with only 10 players. He said, "I view very positively that we did not suffer a losing streak. In previous years, we would have definitely lost such a match and collapsed after conceding a goal, but this year, even with one player missing, we have developed a clear 'ability to hold on'."

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*This content was translated by AI.