'Substitution card and tactical change hit the mark' Kashiwa defeated, Jeonbuk FC coach Jung Jeong-yong: "Matched expectations... grateful to the team" [Jeonju]

*This content was translated by AI.

After securing ACLE's first victory with a thrilling comeback win at home, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors head coach Jung Jeong-yong cited the second-half tactical adjustment and the players' fighting spirit as key factors in the win.

On the 16th, in the 2026–2027 ACLE League Stage 1 match held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonbuk fell behind early after conceding a goal against Kashiwa Reysol (Japan) but secured a 2-1 victory thanks to Thiago's equalizer and a go-ahead goal by Iralo, who was substituted in during the second half.

In a post-match press conference, Coach Jung Jeong-yong said, "The players' determination and eagerness were truly excellent. They executed our second-half tactics perfectly." He added, "We must maintain this attitude going forward. I am grateful to the players for their hard work."

He further emphasized, "This was our first match in front of home fans, and it brings me great joy as a coach to deliver a victory. With league fixtures continuing immediately, we will use this win to solidify our momentum and maintain an upward trend."

Regarding his debut ACLE victory as a head coach, he smiled and said, "It is only natural for a coach to want to stand on a big stage like the ACLE. I am very happy to have secured a win in the first match."

On this day, Jeonbuk struggled against Kashiwa's intense midfield pressure and high ball possession, trailing 0-1 at halftime. However, Coach Jung reversed the flow with only tactical adjustments, making no player substitutions at the start of the second half.

Explaining this, Coach Jung stated, "Kashiwa has high ball possession and is mostly composed of domestic players, so I anticipated their stamina would drop in the second half. We aimed to defend solidly while conceding some midfield control. In particular, we applied intense one-on-one pressing in the second half, which caused Kashiwa significant difficulty."

He also explained the rationale behind the successful substitution. In the 20th minute of the second half with the score tied at 1-1, Iralo replaced Lee Dong-jun. Just four minutes after entering the field, Iralo scored the winning goal with a sharp right-footed curler following a solo dribble breakthrough. Coach Jung expressed satisfaction, saying, "In the second half, we had foreign players with superior speed and physicality waiting on the bench. We expected them to create decisive opportunities when they entered, and that expectation materialized into a result."

Striker Thiago, who attended the post-match ceremony as a key player, also emphasized the power of pre-agreed plays. Scoring a crucial equalizer in the third minute of the second half with a high header from Kim Tae-hwan's cross, Thiago reflected on the match: "We heard Kashiwa is a strong team and prepared thoroughly. Through analysis, we identified that they enjoy ball possession, and the plays we had agreed upon among players were well implemented on the field."

Regarding his own goal-scoring moment, he said, "I always visualize scoring from aerial situations before entering the pitch. Kim Tae-hwan's cross was excellent, and I did not miss the opportunity when the opposing goalkeeper mistimed his move." He added, "Although they were a strong team, we also prepared well. With our teammates supporting us behind, we will continue to prepare steadily for future matches as a team."

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*This content was translated by AI.