Seongnam FC, the “fallen giants” of professional soccer, failed to shake off their slump in the new season.
The Lee Ki-hyung-led club fell to a 0-2 defeat against FC Anyang in a frustrating opening match of the 2024 K League 2 (2) season at the Anyang Sports Complex on Sunday. ‘Novice’ coach Yoo Byung-hoon, who was the head coach of Anyang until last season, easily won his debut at the expense of 안전카지노사이트 Seongnam.
Seongnam was once a prestigious team, having won the Korean Football League title seven times, including in the anecdotal past, before falling to the bottom of the first division in 2022 and being relegated to the second division last season. The relegation didn’t stop them from tightening their belts. Before and during the season, Seongnam added several players to their roster. However, it didn’t translate into results.
Nevertheless, Seongnam continued to invest heavily. They continued to put their faith in coach Lee Ki-hyung. Most teams in the bottom half of the division fired their managers during or after the season. Seongnam also made major additions ahead of this season. They added several big-name players, including international striker Lee Jung-hyeop and defender Yoon Young-sun, as well as veteran midfielders Han Seok-jong and Alibayev and defender Jung Seung-yong.
However, the results have been disappointing. Even though it’s early in the season, they’ve been outclassed by Anyang, who have lost many of their first-teamers. Seongnam’s defensive focus faltered right from the start. Within a minute of kickoff, they conceded a goal to Anyang’s Yoo Jung-wan. Anyang made it 1-0 in the 50th minute, and Danrei added a second goal to put the game out of reach.
A team in a similar predicament to Seongnam is Suwon Samsung. After finishing at the bottom of the first division last season, they will be competing in the second division from this season. Suwon has been dubbed the “Real Suwon” for its four top finishes in the K League, five FA Cup wins, and two Asian Champions League titles. Under new head coach Yeom Ki-hoon, Suwon has strengthened its off-season squad and organized itself with the goal of winning the second division. Suwon will play their first match of the season against Chungnam Asan FC at Suwon World Cup Stadium on March 3.