'Seven-point lead' perfect escape! Coach Lee Jung-hyo: "Being chased and taking the lead are different" — pleased with leading the race [Mokdong]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hyo (51), Suwon Samsung's head coach, shared his thoughts after extending their lead over second place by seven points.

Suwon secured a 1-0 away victory against Seoul E-Land in the 26th round of 'Hana Bank K League 2 2026' held at Mokdong Stadium on the afternoon of the 12th at 4:30 p.m.

Continuing their nine-game unbeaten streak (six wins, three draws), Suwon moved to 53 points (16 wins, five draws, four losses), leading by seven points over second-place Daegu FC. Meanwhile, Seoul E-Land's nine-game unbeaten run (five wins, four draws) ended; they dropped to third place with 45 points (13 wins, six draws, six losses), ceding second place to Daegu.

Suwon claimed the victory thanks to Duivitskas' decisive goal in the 10th minute of the first half and goalkeeper Kim Min-jun's crucial saves during this critical match between the top two teams at an away venue. Despite the disappointment of Kang Hyun-mook's second-half goal being disallowed after video assistant referee (VAR) review, Suwon maintained their lead throughout Seoul E-Land's late offensive pressure.

After the match, Coach Lee Jung-hyo stated, "This was a very important game, and I believe the players fought well as an organized team on the field to secure the win. I want to dedicate this victory to Bruno Silva and Ko Seung-beom."

The coach added, "Both players had to rest at home yesterday due to injuries, yet they came out to see off the traveling squad at the bus station. Seeing that made me feel our team has changed significantly and become more united. I am grateful that the players drew strength from the fans' support."

Regarding the shift in momentum after taking the lead, where Seoul E-Land gained control, Lee explained, "We conduct three types of training every week to prepare for situations when we have possession, lose possession, and when the ball is taken from us. While it's a pity that only one goal came from early chances, I think the players held up well psychologically until the end to secure the win."

He also expressed satisfaction with the changed team atmosphere. "The players have developed stronger cohesion, and their mindset has shifted toward how they can win and provide positive energy to teammates and fans. The players, fans, and club are now united and moving in a positive direction," he evaluated.

On widening the gap over second place with this victory, Lee showed relief. "With injured players on our roster, I considered today's match a major challenge for our team. The result would significantly impact how we approach the upcoming break. Approaching training with the mindset of taking the lead rather than being chased makes a huge difference and will provide significant psychological strength to the players," he said.

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*This content was translated by AI.