'First-half leader' Kim Ki-dong, FC Seoul coach: "Players who struggled so much it was pitiful overcame it with mental strength" [Daejeon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

FC Seoul coach Kim Ki-dong, who finished the first half in first place with an away victory against Daejeon Hana Citizen ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup break, said, "I think we were able to win thanks to the players overcoming the challenges with their mental strength."

In a post-match press conference following the 2-1 victory over Daejeon in the 15th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on the 16th, Coach Kim Ki-dong stated, "As expected, it was not an easy match. The players were so exhausted and struggling that it seemed pitiful, but I believe they overcame it with their mental strength."

On this day, Seoul broke the deadlock with an early goal by Anderson in the 24th minute of the first half but were shaken up after conceding an equalizer to Jung Jae-hee in the 25th minute of the second half. However, a dramatic winning goal by Lee Seung-mo in the 43rd minute of the second half secured the 2-1 victory.

Coach Kim Ki-dong reflected, "The players have played too many matches. They were physically exhausted after playing five games in two weeks. The weather was also hot, so we were deeply concerned about how to manage the game plan."

He continued, "In the first half, we kept possession and made the opponent run. From a tactical standpoint, it went well, but in the second half, the opponent pushed forward significantly to score, which caused problems."

Coach Kim added, "Our supporters (sushin) were more numerous than the Daejeon fans today. Many fans came to support us, and I believe the players, despite their fatigue, were able to overcome it. Thank you."

With this win, Seoul accumulated 32 points (10 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses), extending their lead over second-place Ulsan HD, who have played one fewer match (26 points), by six points as they enter the World Cup break. Their next match is an away game against Incheon United on July 5.

Coach Kim Ki-dong smiled and said, "We have accumulated more points than we had anticipated for the first half. Throughout my coaching career, I have competed for 2nd or 3rd place in the first half, but this is the first time I have maintained first place. I am grateful to the players as a coach."

He further stated, "In the second half, it is crucial to maintain a consistent performance regardless of whether we are winning or losing, without letting the game flow become disrupted. We must show no fluctuation between the first and second halves. If we do this, we will be able to finish the season strongly without losing momentum. If we make good use of the break, we expect to maintain our upward trend in the second half."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.