'Even with the 10th-second lightning goal that wrote new K League 1 history,' Choi Geon-ju: "I really wanted to win" — regret remains... but he was more than enough of a 'Bisan-dong Mbappé' [Anyang on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

FC Anyang striker Choi Geon-ju (27) expressed regret over not securing a victory despite setting a new K League 1 record for the fastest goal.

Anyang drew 2-2 in their Round 14 home match against Kim Cheon (SVP) at Anyang Stadium on the 13th in the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2026'.

As a result, both teams shared one point each. Anyang, who had gone four matches without a win (three draws, one loss), moved up one spot from ninth to eighth with 17 points (3 wins, 8 draws, 3 losses). Gimcheon, who recorded a draw after two consecutive losses, sat in 10th place with 14 points (2 wins, 8 draws, 4 losses).

On this day, Choi Geon-ju scored just 10 seconds after kickoff. After the kickoff whistle, Gimcheon goalkeeper Kim Da-sol launched a long kick toward the opponent's half. The ball reached Kim Woon's head and was passed to Ailton at the front line. Then, a ball cleared by a Gimcheon defender surged toward the goal and found Choi Geon-ju, who fell while shooting and found the back of the net.

With this, Choi Geon-ju set a new record for the fastest goal in K League 1 history. The previous record was held by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker Gustavo, who scored in 11 seconds against FC Seoul in 2023. Including K League 2, this ties the 10th-second record set by Incheon United's Park Seung-ho in 2025.

Anyang took the early lead thanks to Choi Geon-ju's lightning goal but saw their defensive concentration waver in the second half. They eventually conceded consecutive goals from Lee Geon-hee and Kim Ju-chan, allowing the opponent to take the lead. However, Ailton equalized with a header in the 31st minute of the second half, and the match ended in a draw.

In the mixed zone after the match, Choi Geon-ju expressed his regret over the draw despite achieving a historic milestone. He said, "We haven't won in the last five matches, so I really wanted to bring home a result." He added, "I'm glad we secured a point, and we agreed with our teammates to prepare well for the next match against Jeju SK."

The K League 1 fastest goal was the result of meticulous preparation by the coaching staff. Choi Geon-ju recalled, "Coach Ju Jeong-hyun prepared a kickoff pattern. When (Kim) Woon struck the ball, I instinctively sensed an opportunity and surged forward. Fortunately, the ball fell to me."

When asked if he realized he had set a historic record at the moment of scoring, he replied, "I didn't know. I was nervous because it was my first start in a while, but I just felt relieved to score early."

Immediately after scoring, he performed a unique celebration that looked as if he was putting down a heavy burden. Choi Geon-ju explained, "The manager has consistently given me chances, but I haven't been able to capitalize on them, so I've felt the weight on my shoulders. This celebration was meant to convey that I couldn't just be happy because it wasn't the winning goal."

Regarding his own performance, he said, "I'm still not satisfied. I need to be more decisive in finishing the chances created by my teammates," and urged himself to do better.

Anyang's characteristic detailed tactical preparation and advice from veteran teammates also fueled his outstanding performance. Choi Geon-ju said, "The coaching staff provides detailed written summaries of the opponent's attacking patterns on A4 paper for every match, which has been a great tactical learning experience." He also added, "From winter training, (Kim) Bo-kyung advised me to 'move higher up the field.' I actively worked to prove that, and it was a big help."

Once known as the 'Konkuk University Mbappé,' he now seeks a new title. Choi Geon-ju smiled, saying, "I really like Anyang and want to stay here for a long time. I'd like to be called the 'Bisan-dong Mbappé' from now on, taking the name of the area where our training ground is located."

Finally, Choi Geon-ju declared, "My clear goal for this season is to reach 10 attacking points on the K League 1 stage."

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*This content was translated by AI.