"Lee Chung-yong is a quiet leader," praised by the coach, but he remains humble: "Incheon doesn't need advice." [Incheon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Chung-yong (38), building a new career with Incheon United, recorded his first offensive point since joining the club.

On the 16th, Lee Chung-yong scored one goal and provided one assist in the home match against Gwangju FC at Incheon Football Specialized Stadium, leading his team to a 4-0 victory in the 15th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026. In the 26th minute of the first half, Lee Chung-yong assisted Ferrier's goal, and in the 21st minute of the second half, he stepped up as the penalty kick taker to seal the win. With this performance, Lee Chung-yong recorded his first goal and first assist simultaneously in 15 matches since donning the Incheon jersey.

This year, Incheon sits in 5th place in the league with 6 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses (21 points). Lee Chung-yong played a significant role in the surprise success of the promoted team. After the match, Yoon Jeong-hwan, Incheon's head coach, said, "Lee Chung-yong is a quiet leader. He is better at calming down his juniors than taking the spotlight himself. These qualities are evident on the field. When players are struggling, Lee Chung-yong runs an extra step and boldly makes tackles. These are things young players do not yet possess. Lee Chung-yong's exemplary behavior will have a great impact on the younger players."

Just looking at this assist, it was a scene that revealed Lee Chung-yong's sense and dedication. Even in a difficult situation, he threw his body into the pass, completely changing the direction of the ball. Thanks to this, the Gwangju defense collapsed in an instant, and Ferrier easily found the back of the net.

However, Lee Chung-yong himself waved his hands in denial. He passed the ball to his Incheon teammates. After the match against Gwangju, Lee Chung-yong explained, "From my perspective, I don't think Incheon players need advice. They are working hard. Even before I joined this team, I felt their desire to play. All I can do is run for the team's victory. I am focusing on playing soccer with the players day by day and figuring out how to win in the next match."

Regarding his debut goal after joining the club, he said, "I feel good that the team was able to win by a large margin rather than me scoring a goal," and added, "I hadn't recorded any offensive points since joining, so I feel positive that I contributed to the team's victory with a goal and an assist."

Despite the team's good performance in the first half, Lee Chung-yong's gaze was directed higher. He said, "As we went through the first half, I am thinking about the parts that were lacking, and I plan to spend the break thinking about how to achieve our goals in the second half. I am not satisfied with the current performance, but it is not bad either. I will prepare well to finish the second half successfully."

Like a veteran, he set his personal goals alongside the team's goals. Lee Chung-yong said, "Head coach Yoon Jeong-hwan told us to do our best to aim for the Final A. If we continue to work hard like this, I think we can achieve even more than that. Personally, I hope to play many good games. Many people are interested in and watching the K League, so I hope our performance will be a reason for many fans to get interested. I promise to focus not just on winning, but on playing games that fans can enjoy."

He continued, "I am playing thanks to the Incheon fans who cheer for us every match. I am grateful. There were some disappointing games, but from my perspective, Incheon has many young and promising players with great potential for development. There are also experienced players scattered throughout the team. Head coach Yoon Jeong-hwan also ensures that the players can enjoy playing soccer. I look forward to the future. I will continue to develop."

As a senior of the Korean national football team, Lee Chung-yong also offered affectionate advice to the 26In (CEO) team players who will compete in the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup. He said, "I hope you prepare well during the remaining period and show a match without regrets. Just qualifying for the World Cup is enough to receive applause. I hope you play well in the World Cup so that all the people can unite. I will also watch hard on television to support you."

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*This content was translated by AI.