Yoo Kang-hyun’s first goal in the league came up just short. However, Yoo’s roar and the way the players celebrated created more emotions than just one goal.
Daejeon Hana Citizen drew 2-2 with Jeonbuk Hyundai in the 22nd round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 at Daejeon World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12. The result puts Daejeon in sixth place with 30 points.
It was a hard-fought match. It was Jeonbuk who took the lead. In the 18th minute, Song Min-kyu rattled the net after beating Byun Jun-soo. Jeonbuk’s lead lasted for a long time. Daejeon went all out in the second half, bringing on Kim In-gyun, Yoo Kang-hyun, and Shin Sang-woo. Eventually, the equalizer came. In the 30th minute, Thiago headed away a goal kick from goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun. Kim In-gyun caught it and split the goal with a calm right-footed shot.
Daejeon finally took the lead. In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Kim In-gyun broke down the left side and sent in a ground ball cross that Shin Sang-i headed home. Daejeon seemed to have the game won. However, they conceded an unfortunate equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The game ended 2-2. The most disappointing moment for Daejeon was the disallowed goal by Yoo Kang-hyun. In the 42nd minute of the second half, Bae Jun-ho won a free kick, which Kim In-gyun crossed for Yoo Kang-hyun to head home in a chaotic situation. It was Yoo’s first goal in the league, but it didn’t make it into the official record. The video assistant referee (VAR) called an offside foul on the play.
As the ball rattled into the net, Yoo performed a ceremony that seemed to take all the pressure off of him. The fans went into a frenzy. His teammates rushed to him, hugged him, and shared in his joy. The front office of the club also cried with emotion, as if they were familiar with Yoo’s situation and feelings. The goal was disallowed, but the Daejeon home fans showed their unwavering support for Yoo.
“At the beginning of the season, I was frustrated and impatient because I couldn’t score, but the players did a good job, so I didn’t have to worry about that,” he said at the press conference. “But after I scored the goal, I couldn’t help but cry, and even after the game, the fans were calling my name, and I started crying again.
“Even though I haven’t scored a goal in the league so far, they’re always calling my name and supporting me. I’m grateful and sorry. Even today, when the goal was canceled, they still called my name, which brought tears to my eyes. I was so grateful,” he said, thanking the fans for their support.
Yoo Kang-hyun joined Daejeon ahead of this season. Last year, he scored 19 goals in the K League 2 with Chungnam Asan. However, he has yet to score in the league this season. It’s a frustrating situation for him, but he’s training with faith.바카라사이트
“Personally, I’m in good shape. I want to keep it that way. My physical condition is good. I feel good in training and I want to keep it that way. I believe that if I play with the same mindset as today, I will definitely be able to score a goal. Once I get one goal, I think I’ll keep going,” he said encouragingly.
Head coach Lee Min-sung and “teammate” Kim In-gyun also have faith in Yoo Kang-hyun. In the post-match press conference, Lee Min-sung said, “He always tries his best. He has a great desire to show in every game, and the results will follow. I will continue to wait patiently. I’m grateful that he’s doing his part no matter how many minutes he plays.”
Kim In-gyun also said, “(Yoo) Kang-hyun is working really hard. He’s actually a really good goal scorer, but I think he’s frustrated because he hasn’t scored a goal in the league yet this season. But in training, he’s really good at scoring goals. Once he gets going, he can just score four or five goals. I think I need to help him from the sidelines.”