"Not 100%, but a full 120%... We won thanks to the players" Coach Yoo Byung-hoon, moved after defeating Gangwon with '9-game unbeaten streak' [Anyang on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

After defeating Gangwon FC at home and igniting the race for the top positions, Yoo Byung-hoon, head coach of FC Anyang, praised the players' dedicated performance.

On the 26th at 7:30 p.m., Anyang secured a 2-1 victory over Gangwon in their home match at Anyang Stadium during the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 20. With four consecutive games without defeat (two wins, two draws), Anyang now holds seven wins, nine draws, and four losses (30 points), reclaiming fifth place and closing the gap to second-place Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (33 points) by three points.

In a post-match press conference, Coach Yoo Byung-hoon said, "I want to praise the players especially today," adding, "Even amidst difficult schedules and circumstances, they showed not 100% but 120% commitment in the game. Thanks to that, we were able to win."

On this day, Anyang took an early lead just three minutes into the first half when Choi Geon-ju scored the opening goal after receiving a through pass from Yukichi. Then, in the 36th minute of the first half, El Kurano converted Yukichi's free-kick cross with a high-header to extend the lead to 2-0. Although they conceded a consolation goal from Gangwon's Abdalla during stoppage time in the second half, Anyang held on to their lead and secured a valuable three points at home.

Despite the thrilling victory, Coach Yoo maintained, "FC Anyang is still not at 100%. We will prepare even better and show an improved performance moving forward." He added, "I switched to a 3-4-3 formation in the second half based on my decision, and the goal we conceded was a minor flaw. Since we haven't been able to win at home for some time, I feel sorry toward our fans, so we will prepare well for the next match as well."

This victory has brought Anyang within striking distance of second place, making the race for the upper tier more visible. However, Coach Yoo Byung-hoon continued to maintain a cautious attitude. He stated, "FC Anyang's first goal is to qualify for Final A (upper split). We will consider the next objective later." He emphasized, "Rather than focusing on our current fifth-place standing, if we continue to give our best in every match and accumulate points, we should be able to compete comfortably within the top six."

When asked about the secret behind their strong record against Gangwon under Coach Jeong Kyung-ho — five matches with three wins and two draws — Yoo Byung-hoon pointed to the players' willpower and the opponent's unpredictability. He said, "The players showed great concentration and a strong desire to win. Interestingly, it seems that Gangwon often faces injuries or other issues like Suga just before meeting Anyang." He continued, "Gangwon tends to face Anyang in ways different from their usual style, but we stood firm with our own standards. The absence of key player Mo Jae-hyun due to injury likely affected their attacking lineup as well."

Coach Yoo also did not forget to praise El Kurano, who scored the decisive goal on this day. He said, "We were waiting for him to score," adding, "For a striker, scoring is important, but movement comes first. As they keep moving, chances naturally arise, and through training, he has improved significantly."

He further remarked, "Not only his heading goals, but also his ability to hold the ball in one-on-one situations continues to develop, raising our expectations. After assisting in the previous match, he now scored a goal himself. He is a player who can and must continue to improve even more."

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

*This content was translated by AI.