‘Dramatic equalizer → Heartbreaking failure to score a late winner’ Jeonbuk Manager Chung Jung-yong: “It’s incredibly disappointing… I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver a victory” [On-site in Anyang]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Jeonbuk Hyundai Manager Chung Jung-yong could not hide his deep disappointment at failing to secure a win despite a dramatic draw.

Jeonbuk drew 1-1 in their away match against FC Anyang on the 24th at Anyang General Sports Complex, in Round 33 of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 season.

Trailing after conceding an early goal to Kim Un of Anyang in first-half stoppage time, Jeonbuk avoided defeat thanks to a precious late equalizer by Thiago in second-half stoppage time.

In the post-match press conference, Manager Chung stated, “The players did their best until the very end. There were moments when we could have won, but ultimately it ended in a draw.” He added, “It seems we need to maintain our focus throughout the match. Many away fans traveled from far away to support us, and as the manager, I am sorry that I could not bring them a victory.”

He further added, “We must head straight to China for an away match in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL). We will definitely repay our fans with a good result.”

On this day, Jeonbuk brought on Lee Seung-woo at the start of the second half and introduced Hwang Seung-jun and Kim Jin-gyu sequentially in the 17th minute of the second half, but struggled against Anyang’s compact defense. In response, Manager Chung made a bold move in the 28th minute of the second half by substituting midfielder Gamboa for tall striker Compaño, which became the foundation for the flow that led to Thiago’s dramatic equalizer in stoppage time.

Regarding the background of Compaño’s substitution, Manager Chung explained, “There were aspects that required careful judgment in terms of stamina and condition.” He continued, “I believed he could fulfill his role sufficiently with that amount of playing time. Playing for a longer duration would have carried an injury risk, so it seems the timing was crucial.”

He expressed deep regret at failing to extend their winning streak following their 3-2 victory against Jeju. Manager Chung noted, “If we concede first, the match becomes extremely difficult. In a situation where the opponent drops into a low block and comes out on counterattacks, if we had scored the opening goal, there would have been no problem, but because we were trailing, it became a tough battle.” He emphasized, “When we create opportunities, we must produce the result of a certain goal. We also need to maintain focus until the very last moment in defense.”

Regarding his thoughts on finishing the regular season final match with a draw and advancing to Final A, he said, “There is a lingering aftertaste, and it is disappointing. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) situation that occurred at the end also remains as a source of regret. If we had gotten a good result, we could have lifted the team’s atmosphere even further.” He firmly stated, “We will properly adjust the team’s atmosphere and play the football we aim to play. We will approach the next match with a sense of responsibility for competing in the ACL, thoroughly mentally prepared.”

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original