* Translated by AI

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"Mom, my knees are fine." The story behind Park Jae-yong's explosive 10th goal and his inability to resist the "sliding celebration" — "I can't even control myself..."

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*This content was translated by AI.

Seoul E-Land striker Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League
Seoul E-Land striker Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League

Park Jae-yong (26), who reached the milestone of his first 10 career goals, shared the behind-the-scenes story of his knee slide celebration.

On the 19th, Seoul E-Land secured a 2-1 victory over Daegu FC in their home match at Mokdong Stadium during Round 27 of the "Hana Bank K League 2 2026," thanks to Park Jae-yong's winning goal.

The result of this six-point battle saw both teams swap positions in the standings. Seoul E-Land, now with 48 points (14 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses), moved up to third place, overtaking Daegu FC. They are tied on points with second-place Suwon FC but trail in goal difference.

In what could be considered the most important match of the season, Park Jae-yong emerged as the hero. With the score tied at 1-1, he calmly received Baek Ji-woong's penetrating pass in the sixth minute of the second half and fired a right-footed shot into the net.

This winning goal was significant not only for securing the team victory but also for Park Jae-yong personally. It marked his first 10-goal season (with four assists) and achieved double-digit goals. Currently, he is the only domestic player in K League 2 to reach double-digit goals this season.

After the match, Park Jae-yong expressed his joy: "I'm happy we won a three-point game, and even more so that I managed to score."

Park Jae-yong (center) lies on the ground after scoring the winning goal in Seoul E-Land's Round 27 match against Daegu FC at Mokdong Stadium on the 19th. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League
Park Jae-yong (center) lies on the ground after scoring the winning goal in Seoul E-Land's Round 27 match against Daegu FC at Mokdong Stadium on the 19th. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League

Regarding the recent team atmosphere, he explained: "As we approach the final stretch, everyone has become more sensitive, but veteran players like Osamar have kept the team centered. Thanks to them, I was able to recover mentally and prepare well for the Daegu match."

First, Park Jae-yong thanked head coach Kim Do-kyun for his 10th goal. He said, "I had doubts about whether I could score this autumn, but thanks to the coach's trust and giving me opportunities, I achieved double-digit goals."

Immediately after scoring, there was a video review (VAR) regarding whether Park Jae-yong committed a handball foul, but the referee ultimately ruled that the ball struck his abdomen, not his arm. Park Jae-yong said, "I had been worried about my 'nine curse' due to a long goal drought, and I was anxious when the ball hit my hand. I strongly appealed that it hit my stomach, and in the end, the goal was recognized, so I think I've broken the curse."

He also shared a lighthearted story about his knee slide celebration after scoring. Park Jae-yong stated, "I always ask for plenty of water to be sprayed on the grass. My knees are perfectly fine." He continued, "My mother told me never to do a knee slide because she was worried I'd get hurt, but when I score, I can't control myself. If I can't even control myself, how could my mother control me?"

Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League
Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League

Now, Park Jae-yong has set his future goals based on his jersey number. Having already achieved his initial target of 10 goal contributions, he said, "Since my jersey number is 16, I want to reach more than 16 goal contributions. For the remaining six matches, I will focus first on adding another goal as quickly as possible."

When asked about the secret to his current performance, he credited the coaching staff. Park Jae-yong said, "Rather than detailed tactical instructions, the coach's tendency to make players feel comfortable has reduced my psychological burden and suits me well." He added, "I am learning from Coach Yang Dong-hyun, who holds the K League all-time record of 100 goals, how to shoot with precision in every attempt, and I am working hard to improve my scoring ability by applying what I've learned."

Finally, when asked about his chances of winning an award at the year-end ceremony, he honestly mentioned competitors like Garcia and Luis. Park Jae-yong said, "It seems the situation will depend on whether the two players with more goals than me are classified as strikers or wingers. However, upon reflection, I think it would be appropriate for me to attend the awards ceremony."

Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League
Park Jae-yong. /Photo=Korea Professional Football League

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*This content was translated by AI.

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