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DAEGU STUN SEOUL AS HOME SLUMP CONTINUES
May 19, 2024
FC Seoul were brought back down to Earth today following a humbling defeat to fellow strugglers Daegu FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Seoul were unable to put together a prolonged period of pressure until the dying moments of the game, with Daegu looking the more organised side on the day, with star player Cesinha pulling all the strings.
The Brazilian went close to opening the scoring for the away side in the 12th minute with a powerful effort that drifted just wide, while Seoul’s ‘star-man’ Jesse Lingard was on the end of a few heavy challenges early on in what was his first start for the club. Seoul were let off the hook on numerous occasions in the first-half thanks to some awful Daegu finishing and a couple of last ditch challenges in the area.
Seoul’s best chance came in the 34th minute where Daegu keeper Oh Seung-hun did brilliantly to deny a powerful Lee Tae-seok effort from inside the area, with the ball looking destined for the back of the net as soon as it left the full-back’s foot.
The introduction of Willyan at half-time brought some much needed energy, but it would be Daegu that took the lead thanks to an awful error by Seoul full-back Choi Jun. The Seoul defence failed to deal with a long cross from deep, with Choi somehow managing to direct a powerful header towards his own net, in what would have been deemed an excellent goal if it had been scored at the other end. Despite Baek Jong-beom’s best efforts to claw the ball away, it found the back of the net and put the visitors ahead.
Kwon Wan-kyu went agonizingly close with a powerful effort from range in the 68th minute, before yet another defensive blunder allowed Daegu to get their second of the afternoon. Baek Jong-beom’s touch from a Choi Jun backpass was far too heavy, with a Daegu forward quick to pounce on the loose ball before squaring to Yong Hui who made no mistake from yards out.
Baek was lucky to have remained on the pitch just ten minutes later after going wandering off his lien to retrieve a long ball. The goalkeeper clattered into Cesinha head first as he attempted to clear the ball, with the referee being forced to check VAR before eventually handing a relieved a Baek only a yellow card. Cesinha hit the post with the resulting free-kick, leaving Seoul looking lost at sea and without ideas.
Seoul were able to pull one back in stoppage time, with Iljutcenko doing brilliantly to collect the ball with his back to goal inside the area, before turning to slot it home and give Seoul hope. The home side continued to huff and puff until the final whistle, but it was to be too little, too late.
Seoul are now without a home win since April 3rd, and face the daunting task of travelling to in-form Pohang for their next fixture on Saturday.
Full time result: FC Seoul 1-2 Daegu FC
FC SEOUL VS DAEGU FC MATCH PREVIEW
May 17, 2024
FC Seoul return home this weekend to face strugglers Daegu for the second time this season.
Seoul will be hoping to build on their impressive comeback victory over Incheon last weekend, while Daegu could pull themselves out of the relegation zone with a first away win since the opening day of the season. FC Seoul have seemingly begun to find their feet in the league this season after a putting together a couple of decent performances in their last two games. Daegu have also managed to stop the rot, momentarily at least, as they beat Gwangju at home last weekend, the same team that provided their only other victory in round 1.
The last time the two sides met resulted in a goalless bore-draw in Daegu at the beginning of April. Both sides have only managed three wins apiece from their last ten meetings, with the other four having ended in draws. Seoul’s last win over Daegu came in spring of last year, as goals from Palocevic, Na Sang-ho and Hwang Ui-jo saw the home side come out victorious in front of a bumper crowd at Sangam.
Team news:
It is unlikely that there will be too many changes to the side following the impressive display they put in against Incheon. We could see Willyan get a starting berth after his dazzling showing off the bench last week, while Palocevic could also reclaim his spot in the starting eleven after a couple of nice displays off the bench in recent weeks.
Jesse Lingard has returned to training this week but is not expected to be fit enough to be named in the squad.
Score prediction: FC Seoul 2-1 Daegu FC
BAEK FINED FOR ROLE IN INCHEON INCIDENT
May 17, 2024
FC Seoul fans have been left outraged today as the K-league Disciplinary Committee announced that goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom will be forced to pay a fine of 7 million won for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ in relation to the events that took place immediately after the full-time whistle of the game against Incheon last weekend.
Baek angered the Incheon fans behind the goal by gesturing towards them as the final whistle blew, with the fans responding by launching bottles of water onto the pitch and in the direction of the Seoul players. Incheon have also been fined 20 million won and will be forced to close the stand behind the goal for the next five games as punishment for failing to control their supporters.
A Suhoshin group leader almost immediately set up a crowdfunding account for which Seoul fans could donate to in order to pay off Baek’s fine, with many claiming that punishing celebrations is a slippery slope that will lead to a worse atmosphere around the league as a whole. Over 7 million won was raised within twelve hours of the announcement, with the remaining funds set to go to the junior FC Seoul sides.
INCHEON FANS PELT SEOUL PLAYERS WITH WATER BOTTLES IN UGLY SCENES AT FULL-TIME
May 11, 2024
A brilliant game of football was marred by fan behaviour today, as Incheon fans decided to exact their own brand of retribution on the Seoul players following their 2-1 defeat to the capital side this afternoon.Fans behind the goal in the home end of the stadium became furious at Seoul goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom for his celebrations aimed at them following the final whistle, with Baek claiming that his actions were in response to abuse hurled at him throughout the game, with the shot stopper particularly upset about insults relating to his family.
Bottles of water were then thrown onto the pitch by the Incheon fans in the direction of the Seoul players, with captain Ki Sung-yueng being hit directly in a less than comfortable part of his body. There will no doubt be heavy repercussions for the Incheon fans’ behaviour, with many expecting a that section of the stadium to be closed for a number of games following the disgraceful scenes. The club has already put out a statement apologising for the incident, while a number of fans have condemned their own club's supporters for the embarrassing incident.
SEOUL COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN FIERY ENCOUNTER WITH INCHEON
May 11, 2024
FC Seoul were able to complete a memorable comeback on the road to defeat fierce rivals Incheon United in a feisty contest on a wet afternoon.
The game was hotly contested from the very first whistle, with both sides pushing forward in hunt of an opener with some quick and free-flowing passing. Incheon had the better of the opening exchanges, forcing the Seoul defenders into making a number of last-ditch challenges to keep the scores level.
Incheon opened the scoring in the 37th minute as the Seoul defenders completely switched off, allowing Mugosa to get onto the end of a corner kick completely unmarked to tap the ball past the keeper, making it the score 1-0 to the home side.
Seoul were handed a lifeline just before half-time as Incheon’s Gerso was shown a straight red card for striking Choi Jun in the face after the pair had a coming together off the ball. The man advantage allowed Seoul to come flying out of the traps after the re-start, with Willyan levelling things up just minutes after coming on. The Brazilian was on hand to collect a poorly cleared cross, before slotting the ball past the keeper to put Seoul back in the driving seat.
Willyan didn’t take long to double his tally and put Seoul in front, as his deflected effort wrong-footed the keeper to make it 2-1 to Seoul less than ten minutes later.
Park Dong-jin had a chance to put the game out of sight in the 80th minute after some clever play from the forwards, but saw his shot blocked by a last ditch challenge as Incheon struggled to hold on. The home side did manage to learn a number of decent attacks as the game began to draw to a close, with Baek Jeong-beom being forced into making some excellent saves, as well as being saved by the post on one occasion in the final minutes.
Seoul were able to cling on and secure the valuable three-points in what was an absolute battle of a game in Incheon. The side will return home next weekend to face Daegu at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Full-time result: Incheon United 1-2 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS INCHEON UNITED MATCH PREVIEW
May 10, 2024
FC Seoul will make the short trip to Incheon on Saturday as they look to get their first win over their local rivals since the opening day of last season.
The disdain that the two clubs have for each other has been elevated in recent years for a number of reason, meaning that games between the two sides are always fiery, yet entertaining affairs. Both sides come into the game with just one win from their last five games, with Incheon having fared slightly better however having drawn three and lost once, compared to Seoul four losses. Incheon sit three places above the capital side in 6th on 14 points, with Seoul occupying 9th with 12 points, just a two point difference.
Incheon will come into the game slight favourites for this one, having displayed slightly better form in recent weeks, but Seoul will be looking to get one over on their rivals and get back to winning ways after a disappointing late defeat last time out to Ulsan. Seoul have only managed one win against Incheon from their last ten meetings, with Incheon having won four, while the rest ended in draws. The games between these sides tend to be low scoring affairs, but make no mistake that the intensity will be there from the very first kick of a ball.
Team news:
It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if Kim Gi-dong opted to go with the same team that started against Ulsan after their robust display against the champions. Kim Ju-sung and Rebin Sulaka are still some time away from return, so it is likely that Kwon Wan-kyu and Park Seong-hun will continue to occupy the centre of defence.
Cho Young-wook is also still out with an injury, while Jesse Lingard returned to training this week but is not yet match fit and therefore unlikely to make the squad.
Score prediction: Incheon United 0-1 FC Seoul
ULSAN NICK WIN FOLLOWING VAR CONTROVERSY
May 4th, 2024
FC Seoul once again failed to get one over on Ulsan HD tonight as they were cruelly beaten by a controversial late penalty decision which saw the away side convert and take home all three points.
Seoul started the game with the same line-up that beat Suwon midweek, and came flying out of the traps as they looked to take the game to Ulsan. The youthful backline looked solid from the get-go as they were able to repel the visitors attacking efforts with somewhat ease. Seoul looked to use the counter-attack to their advantage, and were almost rewarded in the 30th minute as Lim Sang-hyub found the back of the net from a Hwang Do-yun. The goal was ruled out for offside, however.
The game grew into a back-and-forth battle, with both sides willing to push forward and have a go at goal with both keepers being called into action on numerous occasions. Ki Sung-yueng forced a good save from Cho Hyun-woo in the 60th minute, before Lee Seung-jun had a couple of efforts blocked by Cho in the following ten minutes.
It looked anyone’s game as the full-time whistle approached, before a seemingly out-of-the-blue stoppage and VAR check from the referee had both sets of fans wondering what was going on. After a prolonged wait, the referee returned to the field to award Ulsan a penalty after an alleged handball in the box by Choi Jun. The Seoul players protested furiously, as it appeared that Choi’s contact with the ball was minimal and unavoidable at best, while the Ulsan players didn’t even appeal for a handball at the time of the incident.
Nevertheless, Martin Adam stepped up to slot home the spot-kick to break Seoul hearts and condemn them to yet another home defeat this season. The fans greeted the players with glee despite the loss, as it was widely recognized that the team had put in a hearty performance against last year’s champions.
Full-time result: FC Seoul 0-1 Ulsan HD
FC SEOUL VS ULSAN HYUNDAI MATCH PREVIEW
May 1, 2024
FC Seoul will once again have a go at taking three points off the champions on Saturday as they look to end an 18-game streak that lasts almost six years against Ulsan HD.
Seoul’s last victory against Ulsan came all the way back in October 2017, with Ulsan having been victorious on 13 occasions since then. Ulsan currently sit second in the table, just one point below leaders Pohang Steelers, but with a game in hand. The visitors will no doubt be hungry to regain top spot by beating Seoul, so the capital side will have to be at their absolute best if they are to get anything from this game.
Seoul’s midweek victory over Suwon FC provided some respite for the players and fans after having gone on a three-game losing streak beforehand, with a number of fringe players getting called up after lacklustre performances from a number of first-team players in recent weeks. It will be interesting to see whether the manager will risk going for the youth again, or if he will go back to the supposed better team on paper for such a big game.
The two sides met three times over the course of last season, with Ulsan winning twice, and the other ending in a draw.
Team news:
As mentioned above, it will be interesting to see how Kim Gi-dong will play this one. The young squad that took on Suwon performed well on the day, but fielding them against a title chasing Ulsan is another kettle of fish all together.
In terms of injuries, it is believed that Rebin Sulaka is close to returning to fitness and could perhaps make the bench for this one. Cho Young-wook remains sidelined with an injury, as does Jesse Lingard.
Baek Jeong-beom’s stellar performance midweek will surely mean that he keeps his place between the sticks for this one.
Score prediction: FC Seoul 0-2 Ulsan HD
A GOAL EACH HALF SEALS THE WIN FOR FC SEOUL
April 30, 2024
Seoul were able to end their losing streak with a comprehensive victory over Suwon FC under the floodlights.
Seoul fielded a much changed side for this one, with a number of second string players getting some game time as Kim Gi-dong looked to freshen things up after a number of poor performances. The changes seemed to pay off as Seoul were able to keep the ball much better than in previous weeks and looked more comfortable at the back with Baek Jeong-beom between the sticks.
Kang Seong-jin almost opened the scoring in the 27th minute after some clever link-up played allowed him to get a shot off inside the area, with the keeper making a smart save to keep it out.
Seoul finally broke the deadlock just before half-time after some excellent play between the two strikers. Park Dong-jin did brilliantly to head a cross back across goal to find Kim Shin-jin unmarked. Kim made no mistake as he nodded the ball past the keeper to put Seoul one-nil up at the break.
Suwon came out with a bit more purpose in the second half, forcing Baek Jeong-beom into a number of quality saves as Seoul battled to maintain their lead.
Seoul got their second via a deflected Ki Sung-yueng strike in the 66th minute after some more excellent link-up play between the forwards. Iljutcenko did brilliantly to hold up a long ball, before Lim Sang-hyub teed up Ki on the edge of the area. Ki’s strike took a heavy deflection before finding the back of the net to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
Suwon kept pushing up until the last minute, with Baek being called into action on a number of occasions in the dying moments. Seoul were able to hold on and see the game out, claiming their first victory in five games.
Full-time result: Suwon FC 0-2 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS SUWON FC MATCH PREVIEW
April 29, 2024
There’s no rest for the wicked this week as FC Seoul faces a quick turnaround from their defeat at Daejeon last Saturday as they make the short trip south to take on Suwon FC in what has become something of a must win game for Seoul.
Seoul finds themselves on a three game losing streak in the league and currently sit in 9th position in the table. The team are yet to get a win on the road so far this season and could face the wrath of the fans if they fail to pick up all three points against Suwon on Tuesday night.
Suwon meanwhile are on a three game winning streak and find themselves exceeding expectations as they currently occupy fourth spot in the league after securing an impressive 2-1 away victory over Gwangju last weekend.
FC Seoul have an excellent record against Suwon FC in recent years, having won six out of the last ten games between the sides, drawing three and losing just once.
Team news:
It appears that Rebin Sulaka has been training away from the first team squad so is likely to be injured and unavailable for this one. Cho Young-wook and Kang Sang-woo were both forced off injured in the defeat to Daejeon, so may also sit this one out.
Score prediction: Suwon FC 1-1 FC Seoul
DAEJEON MAUL DIRE SEOUL AS THE ROT CONTINUES
April 27, 2024
FC Seoul were beaten for the third game in a row as Daejeon managed to lift themselves off the bottom of the table with just their second win of the season against the hapless capital side.
Daejeon controlled the ball from the opening moments and were able to stretch the Seoul defence at will. It didn’t take long for the home side to open the scoring via ex-Seoul man Ju Se-jong. Ju’s free-kick from the edge of the area seemed to pass through the hands of stand-in keeper Hwang Seong-min before hitting the back of the net.
Kim Seung-dae made it 2-0 to the home side in the 36th minute after pouncing on a shot that rebounded off the post, with the forward able to prod the ball over the line with the Seoul defenders at sixes and sevens.
Daejeon made it three just two minutes after the restart, with Kim Seung-dae once again able to capitalise on some more defensive sloppiness from Seoul.
Stanislav Iljutcenko was able to pull one back for Seoul with a well taken header in the 59th minute, before later having another ruled out for offside. Seoul were unable to build upon this however, with the home side taking home the three points on what was another difficult afternoon for FC Seoul. The hunt for a win continues on Tuesday night when Seoul visit Suwon FC.
Full time result: Daejeon Citizen 3-1 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS DAEJEON HANA CITIZEN MATCH PREVIEW
April 25, 2024
FC Seoul will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways this weekend as they travel to take on the league’s bottom side Daejeon Citizen.
Seoul are without a win in three in the league, with their last victory coming back at the beginning of the month when they beat Gimcheon Sangmu 5-1 at home. Back-to-back home defeats in their last two against Pohang and Jeonbuk saw Seoul drop to 7th in the table, with just 9 points from 8 games so far.
Manager Kim Gi-dong will no doubt be concerned about the leakiness of the Seoul defence of late, with the side having shipped 7 goals in their last two games. The injury to Kim Ju-sung meant various centre-halves being forced to fill in at the back, but none of them have quite looked up to par as yet.
Daejeon have had a slow start to the season themselves, having only managed one win in the league so far this season while currently occupying bottom place in the league table. Last season’s surprise package have found goals hard to come by this time around, and have been defeated on four occasions since the start of the campaign. Last weekend’s game with Daegu saw them play out a goalless draw on the road.
FC Seoul have failed to beat Daejeon since their return to the top flight, with Daejeon winning two of the four meetings between the sides last season, while the others ended in draws. Seoul’s last league victory against Daejeon came way back in 2015 in a 2-0 win via goals from Osmar and Yun Ju-tae.
Team news:
It remains unclear whether Kim Ju-sung will be fit enough to travel for this one, so we can expect Hwang Hyun-soo to deputise once again if that turns out to be the case. Choi Chul-won is likely to keep his place between the sticks despite his horror-show of a performance last time out, with Baek Jeong-beom still away with youth international duty.
Score prediction: Daejeon Citizen 1-2 FC Seoul
JEONBUK COMEBACK STUNS SEOUL
April 20, 2024
FC Seoul’s dismal run of form against Jeonbuk continued today, as the visitors were able to come from behind to score a late winner in what was a thrilling encounter on a wet day in Seoul.
Both sides looked to attack from the outset, with the game played in a very high intensity from the first whistle. Jeonbuk didn’t take long to draw first blood, however, as yet another howler from goalkeeper Choi Chul-won gifted the visitors their opening goal. Choi hesitated one too many times when receiving the ball at his feet inside the area, with Jeonbuk’s Song Min-kyu quick to bear down on goal and slide tackle the ball into the back of the net, much to the disbelief of the Seoul fans and indeed players.
Former Jeonbuk man Stanislav Iljtcenko got Seoul back into the game just five minutes later with a brilliant header from a Ki Sung-yueng corner to make it 1-1.
Seoul then managed to take the lead in the 30th minute following some brilliant play down the right from Choi Jun and Cho Young-wook. Choi did brilliantly to acrobatically keep the ball in on the touchline, releasing Cho who picked out Aleksandar Palocevic with a low cross into the area. Palo was able to get the slightest of touches onto the ball, converting past the Jeonbuk keeper to give Seoul aspirations of a comeback victory.
This was to be short-lived, however, as Lee Young-jae drew the sides level less than ten minutes later as his low strike once again caught Choi Chul-won flat-footed, firing inside the near post to make it 2-2 at the break.
Jeonbuk didn’t waste much time after the interval and once again took the lead within five minutes via a wonder goal from Jeon Byung-kwan. The winger did brilliantly to take Kim Jin-su’s cross from deep on the volley with a spectacular bicycle kick to blast the ball past Choi Chul-won, sending the away supporters into raptures.
Seoul kept pushing to find an equaliser, but were ultimately came up short, with Iljutcenko coming closest with another header that was unfortunately ruled out for offside. The Seoul fans turned their backs on the players as they approached the N-block after the game, letting them know exactly how it feels to be without a win in 23 games against Jeonbuk in all competitions. Seoul desperately needs to get back to winning ways when they face Daejeon on the road next Saturday.
Full time result: FC Seoul 2-3 Jeonbuk Hyundai
SEOUL SLIP PAST E-LAND TO PROGRESS IN KOREA CUP
April 17, 2024
FC Seoul were able to progress in the Korean Cup following a close game that saw their second-string narrowly overcome Seoul E-Land at Mokdong this evening.
The game was a fairly evenly matched encounter throughout most of the first half, with E-Land producing most of the chances while FC Seoul were mainly forced to play on the counterattack.
Seoul finally broke the deadlock via a well taken header from centre-half Hwang Hyun-soo in the 63rd minute following a corner.
E-Land pushed forward in search of an equaliser but ultimately fell short as Kim Gi-dong called upon his more experienced players to come in off the bench to steady things up and make sure the visitors came away with the win.
Seoul will now face Gangwon FC in the next round at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Full time result: Seoul E-Land 0-1 FC Seoul
SEOUL SACRIFICE LEAD TO LOSE OUT TO POHANG
April 13, 2024
Seoul saw all their hard-work undone today, as they came from a goal down to being in a winning position, before blowing their lead to lose to league leaders Pohang Steelers.
The game started brightly, with both sets of players passing the ball around well and attacking en masse. Pohang didn’t take long to move in front, however, as Heo Yong-jun was on hand to blast a knock down from a corner into the back of the net in the 15th minute of play, making it 0-1.
Seoul huffed and puffed up until first half stoppage time, and were rewarded with a goal as youngster Son Seung-beom tapped in a rebound after Kwon Wan-kyu’s header came back off the post, his first for the club.
Seoul went ahead in the 65th minute as Willyan was on hand to pounce on a defensive error and prod the ball over the line to make it 2-1 to the home side. The Brazilian had a chance to put the game out of sight just two minutes later as he was left completely unmarked inside the area. Cho Young-wook’s low cross evaded everyone in the box, before falling to Willyan with what seemed like a simple tap-in. The winger seemingly took his eye off the ball, as he knocked the ball wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.
This moment may have been pivotal to the sway of the match, as Pohang began to press in search of an equaliser. It didn’t take long to come, as Lee Ho-jae was on hand to put the finishing touches onto a brilliant Pohang counter to level the scores with 15 minutes to play.
The visitors then re-gained their lead just five minutes later via a brilliant back heeled volley from Park Chan-yong. Seoul rallied forward in search of an equaliser, but were ultimately put to the sword as Jeong Jae-hee put the game out of the side deep into stoppage time as he beat Choi Chul-won at the near post with a powerful strike.
It was a sad way for Seoul to end such an entertaining game, especially considering the day was touted as a celebration of Go Yo-han’s career following his retirement. Seoul will face Jeonbuk next weekend as they look to get back to winning ways.
Full time result: FC Seoul 2-4 Pohang Steelers
FC SEOUL VS POHANG STEELERS MATCH PREVIEW
April 12, 2024
FC Seoul will return home this weekend when they take on Pohang Steelers at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The game will be something of a special occasion as the club will honour FC Seoul legend and one-club-man Go Yo-han, who retired in January.
Seoul will have to be at their best if they are to send Go off in style, however, with Pohang currently on a hot streak of form and sitting at the top of the table after an excellent start to the season. Pohang have been unbeaten since losing to Ulsan on the opening day, and most recently saw off Daejeon on their last venture out.
To add some extra intrigue, it will also be the first time that Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong will face his old-club since his move in the winter, with the Seoul playing squad also boasting numerous ex-Pohang players. Seoul fans will be hoping that Kim can provide some extra inside into how his old side will set up on Saturday, with the boss surely desperate to get one over on them to get back to winning ways.
The results have been fairly even between the two sides in recent years, with five of the last ten meetings between the clubs ending in draws. Seoul have only between defeated once in that time, however, having won four and lost one.
Team news:
Seoul will still be without the youngsters that are away with the junior national team, and will be until at least May. Jesse Lingard is believed to have returned to light training, but is still unlikely to fit enough to make the starting eleven. Kim Ju-sung took a heavy blow last time out at Daegu, but is expected to be fit enough to start this one.
Score prediction: FC Seoul 1-1 Pohang Steelers
SEOUL SEE ONE RULED OUT IN GOALLESS DRAW WITH DAEGU
April 7, 2024
Seoul were unable to build upon their midweek thumping of Gimcheon, as they failed to score against a Daegu side that hadn’t kept a clean sheet up until that point.
The play from both sides was cagey at the best times, with neither really providing much for the fans to write home about in the first half. A number of players ended up receiving knocks throughout the first 45 minutes, with Cesinha being forced off for Daegu, while both Edgar and Kim Ju-sung required lengthy treatment following head clashes. Daegu had probably the best chance of the half deep into injury time as a scramble inside the box almost led to a free header for Edgar, although Seoul eventually cleared the ball to safety.
A slip from Ki Sung-yueng inside his own half almost led to a goal, as a Daegu attacker was able to collect the ball and bore down on goal. Luckily, Choi Jun was on hand to make a last-ditch challenge to put the ball out for a corner instead.
Cho Young-wook thought he had broken the deadlock in the 64th minute via a brilliant strike just inside the box from an acute angle, but the VAR referee had other ideas. The goal was ruled out for a foul in the build-up, meaning the score remained 0-0.
With neither side able to find a breakthrough, the game ended 0-0. This was probably a fair result, as the attacking efforts by both sets of players just weren't quite up to scratch on the day.
Full-time result: Daegu FC 0-0 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS DAEGU MATCH PREVIEW
April 5, 2024
FC Seoul will make the trip to Gyeongsang-do this Sunday as they look to take home three points from a Daegu side who have struggled to find their feet so far this season.
Seoul were in fine form midweek as they swept Gimcheon away in a comprehensive 5-1 victory at Sangam, and will no doubt be looking to replicate such a performance for this one. Daegu meanwhile will be licking their wounds following a 3-0 away thrashing at the hands of Gangwon on Wednesday, leaving them second bottom in the table and in desperate need of points.
The home side have managed just one win so far this season, a 2-1 away win against Gwangju on the last day of March. Seoul have fared slightly better, picking up two wins and two draws after losing to Gwangju on the first day of the season.
The last five meetings between the two sides in all competitions has been fairly even, with both picking up two wins a piece, with their most recent tie ending in a draw.
Team news:
Seoul will be without a number of their young squad members who have been selected for the U23 Olympic squad. These include Baek Jeong-beom, Lee Tae-seok, Baek Sang-hoon and Kang Seong-jin.
It is still unclear whether Jesse Lingard will be fit enough to make the match day squad for this one, having missed out on the last two following knee discomfort.
Kim Gi-dong will likely want to stick to a similar starting line-up that played so impressively against Gimcheon, so we can expect minimal changes.
Score prediction: Daegu FC 1-3 FC Seoul
SEOUL STEAMROLL GIMCHEON TO CLIMB INTO FOURTH
April 4, 2024
Seoul bounced back from their disappointing performance at Gangwon as they ran riot over Gimcheon Sangmu at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday night.
Cho Young-wook opened the scoring from the edge of the area in the 16th minute, after Iljutcenko had done well to initially hold the ball up inside the area. Iljutcenko turned from provider to scorer fifteen minutes later, as some clever link-up play between Palocevic and Lim Sang-hyub led to the latter finding the forward unmarked in the area, laying on an easy tap-in.
Iljutcenko got his second just five minutes later after some more clever play from Lim Sang-hyub down the left, with the winger laying on another clever cross for the German to prod home. Seoul made it four on the stroke of halftime when the aforementioned duo reversed their roles, with Iljutcenko setting up Lim Sang-hyub to score his first goal of the season with a flukey effort from the edge of the area.
Gimcheon were able to hit back briefly after the break, as Kim Min-jun scored an absolute worldie from 30-yards out to give Gimcheon perhaps a glimmer of hope in the 52nd minute. Those hopes would be dashed in the 80th minute, however, with Park Dong-jin doing well to slot home from the edge of the area after a smart counter-attack from the side, making the score 5-1.
It was a truly brilliant performance from the home side, as they looked to have finally found their rhythm going forward and some cohesiveness at the back. Seoul will travel to Daegu this Sunday for Round 6.
Full time result: FC Seoul 5-1 Gimcheon Sangmu
FC SEOUL VS GIMCHEON SANGMU FC MATCH PREVIEW
April 2, 2024
Seoul will look to get back to winning ways as they take on Gimcheon Sangmu in this week’s midweek fixture at Sangam.
Seoul looked sluggish as they conceded a one-nil lead late on away at Gangwon last Sunday, with the side producing very little going forward despite an almost full strength line-up. Gimcheon are flying high after four games, finding themselves in second in the table after two consecutive victories. They secured an impressive 4-1 away win over Suwon FC last week, as well as putting Jeonbuk to the sword in a 1-0 victory the week before.
Both sides have won two each from the last six meetings between the sides, with the other two ending in draws. The last game between them ended in a 1-1 draw at Sangam back in October of 2023.
Team news:
Jesse Lingard is expected to miss out once again after having some discomfort in his knee following the international break. Rebin Sulaka received a straight red card late on away at Gangwon so will sit this one out too.
Seoul will be forced to field A different look back line for this one, with Kwon Wan-kyu expected to slot in.
Predicted score: FC Seoul 1-1 Gimcheon Sangmu
SEOUL SLUGGISH IN AWAY DRAW WITH GANGWON
March 31, 2024
FC Seoul ended up being lucky to come away with a point after initially going one-up on the road at Gangwon on Sunday.
The capital side produced very little in the first half as they struggled to find any rhythm in their build-up play. Gangwon were much the better side, as they tested goalkeeper Choi Chul-won on a couple of occasions after easily slipping through the Seoul midfield, while the defence looked non-existent also.
The manager decided to make a few changes after the break, replacing Aleksandar Palocevic and Stanislav Iljutcenko with Han Seung-gyu, before bringing on Willyan for Lee Tae-seok in what turned out to be a vital change. The Brazilian, who was making his first appearance of the season, took less than ten minutes to open the scoring for the visitors, as he did brilliantly to get his head to a cross into the box from Cho Young-wook. The winger made no mistake as he rose highest to nod the ball past the keeper.
The joy was short-lived however, as Lee Sang-heon pulled one back for Gangwon with just four minutes left on the clock following some sloppy defending from Seoul. The home side were reduced to ten men just two minutes later, as Lee Ji-sol was shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders in the 88th minute.
Seoul weren’t to be outdone in this area either, with Rebin Sulaka being shown a straight red after rugby tackling his man after his poor touch on the half-way line allowed Vitor Gabriel to pounce on the ball, nicking it away from the Iraqi. Sulaka was left with no choice but to bring him down despite being the last man, as Gabriel would have been odds-on to score the winner if he had been able to maneuver past the center back.
Seoul fans breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle blew, after yet another lackluster performance from the side against a weaker opposition on paper.
Full time result: Gangwon FC 1-1 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS GANGWON FC MATCH PREVIEW
March 28, 2024
FC Seoul will return to action this weekend following the international break as they travel to Chuncheon to take on Gangwon FC in Round 4 of K-league 1.
Seoul come into the game off the back of their first win of the season, a comfortable 2-0 victory over Jeju United at Sangam. They will be looking to get their first win on the road against a Gangwon side that have yet to muster a win from their opening three fixtures. The home side has also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five games, while Seoul have been unbeaten by Gangwon in their previous three meetings. Seoul hasn’t won away at Gangwon since October 2021, a stat that they will be hoping to break this weekend.
Team news:
Youngsters Baek Jeong-beom, Kang Seong-jin, Baek Sang-hoon and Lee Tae-seok have all been away with the junior international teams this week, so are likely to miss out on this weekend’s match-day squad. It remains to be seen if Jesse Lingard will be handed his first start of the season on Sunday, although it seems fairly unlikely following Kim Gi-dong’s recent comments on the winger’s work rate.
Predicted score: Gangwon FC 1-2 FC Seoul
KIM GI-DONG LOOKING FOR MORE FROM LINGARD
March 18, 2024
FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong’s comments following the side’s 2-0 home victory over Jeju United on Saturday have made headlines both domestically and overseas after he suggested that Jesse Lingard had not been pulling his weight.
Lingard came on in the second half for his third appearance off the bench in as many games, but Kim was left less than impressed by what he saw. The boss said that he considered taking him off again despite bringing him on deep into the second half, claiming “he (Lingard) didn’t work hard and avoided tussle.” He also went to say that the ex-England international must worker harder and that his “name value has no meaning on the pitch”.
This is not the first time that Lingard has been singled out for such criticism, with fans of both Manchester United and Nottingham Forest claiming that the winger lacked focus and wasn’t dedicated enough to deserve his astronomical wages.
Despite claiming back in February that he is ready to fully commit to his football and make it his main focus once again, Lingard has already hit the gossip sections of the Korea media. The 31-year-old was caught sliding into the DM’s of a semi-famous Korean influencer in recent weeks, as well as posting emojis onto pictures of the FC Seoul cheerleaders’ personal profiles. He has also continued to have a presence in the social media world, posting videos of himself teaching UK slang to his younger teammates, as well as asking viewers to rank their outfits as they leave training.
Lingard was said to have departed for England following the victory over Jeju as he enjoys a two-week break from games due to international fixtures. He will no doubt have Kim Gi-dong’s remarks ringing in his ears during his downtime, so we will have to wait and see if he can muster a decent response on the pitch in the coming games.
SEOUL GRAB FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON IN CLASSY DISPLAY AGAINST JEJU
March 17, 2024
FC Seoul managed to bag their first three points of the season as they overcame Jeju United 2-0 thanks to first-half goals from Stanislav Iljutcenko and Ki Sung-yueng.
Kim Gi-dong opted for a much more conventional looking line-up, with each player playing in their natural position. This seemed to pay-off early on, as the side moved the ball around with fluidity and purpose. This led to Kim Ju-sung being brought down inside the penalty area in the 15th minute, with the referee pointing to the spot after a lengthy VAR consultation. Stanislav Iljutcenko stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, and put Seoul into an early lead.
It didn’t the home side long to double their tally, this time via a wonder goal from captain Ki Sung-yueng. Choi Jun’s brilliant work down the right saw a cross collected by Cho Young-wook inside the area, before being scrambled back to Ki on the edge of the area. The midfielder took one touch to steady himself before blasting a thunderbolt of a strike into the top corner to spark wild celebrations from the both the players and the fans.
There was a bit of needle added to the game just before the half-time whistle as a number of Jeju players were booked for heavy challenges in their frustration. There were a total of seven yellow cards brandished between the two sides in the first half alone.
Jeju pushed up a little higher in the second half as they went on the hunt for a goal to get themselves back into the game. The Seoul defence stood firm, with Rebin Sulaka looking solid and commanding at the back on his debut. Seoul also did their best to push for a third to kill the game off, bringing on Jesse Lingard, Aleksandar Palocevic and Park Dong-jin in short succession.
It seemed as though Lingard was about to seal his first goal for the club in the 86th minute as he was released just inside the Jeju half with only the keeper to beat, but the Englishman’s touch was far too heavy, allowing the Jeju keeper to clean up comfortably.
The away side saw any chance of a comeback dashed in the 90th minute as Lim Chae-min was dismissed via second-yellow for cynically pulling down Lee Tae-seok in the Seoul penalty area.
The final whistle blew shortly after, but not before further bookings saw the referee take the names of Jesse Lingard and Kim Ju-sung, bringing the total number of cards shown to twelve in what was an entertaining game of football at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Full-time result: FC Seoul 2-0 Jeju United
FC SEOUL VS JEJU UNITED MATCH PREVIEW
January 13, 2023
FC Seoul will continue their hunt for a first win of the 2024 season this Saturday as they take on Jeju United at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
We have yet to see any form of positive performance from the new-look side, having lost one and drawn one in their first two games. Manager Kim Gi-dong has been so far unable to find the formula to get the team playing in the way which he wants, with Seoul yet to find the back of the net and looking far from doing so as yet. Seoul currently occupies 11th in the table, with last week’s draw putting them one point above a Daegu side that has failed to register a point.
Jeju currently occupy 3rd in the table after a managing a draw and a win from their first two, with an impressive 3-1 victory over Daejeon last weekend putting them in good stead. Defeating the islanders will not be a straight forward task for the home side, whom will have to be at their best if they are to get anything from the game.
Seoul have managed just three wins from their last ten meetings with Jeju, while the islanders have won four. The rest have ended in draws, most recently a 0-0 in Seogwipo back in November of last year.
Team news:
Kim Ju-sung seemed to take quite a heavy knock towards the end of the game with Incheon, and could potentially sit this one out. Rebin Sulaka could be in line to deputise if this turns out to be the case. We might see Jesse Lingard getting his first start of the season after a getting a decent 60 minutes under his belt last time out.
Predicted score: FC Seoul 1-1 Jeju United
SEOUL CONTINUE TO FIRE BLANKS IN GOALLESS DRAW WITH INCHEON
March 10, 2024
FC Seoul put on another limp display as they were unable to find the net for the second game running in their opening home game of the season against Incheon on Sunday.
The stadium was packed out with expectant fans hoping to get a glimpse of Jesse Lingard with an official attendance of 51,670, the fourth highest in FC Seoul history at Sangam.
The game, however, failed to live up to expectations. Neither side were able to do much with the ball in the opening moments, with very little action to report on. The highlight of the first half was probably the surprise introduction of Jesse Lingard on just the half-hour mark, with the Englishman replacing debutant Takuya Shigehiro to make his home debut.
Lingard had an immediate impact as he thread a clever through ball into Kang Sang-woo’s path inside the box, although the keeper did well to deflect the ball away.
The second half saw much of the same from both sides, with neither being able to create any clear cut chances. Lingard was regularly making clever runs into the box to no avail, and cut a frustrated figure at his teammates lack of awareness to his movements.
The fans started to become restless as the game entered the final ten minutes, with Ki Sung-yueng dragging a shot well wide from the edge of the area in what was one just four shots that Seoul had all game, zero of which were on target.
Lingard shows signs of ‘ring-rust’ as he sent an effort way over the bar after being found unmarked inside the area in the 82nd minute, being Incheon’s Gerso forced a decent save from Choi Chul-won just a few minutes later.
The game ended goalless, in what was an anticlimactic afternoon at Seoul World Cup Stadium. It will be interesting to see how many of the 51,000+ fans return next week after such poor showing, while manager Kim Gi-dong must be scratching his head at how to get the best out of this group players.
Full time result: FC Seoul 0-0 Incheon United
FC SEOUL VS INCHEON UNITED MATCH PREVIEW
March 8, 2024
FC Seoul will take on local rivals Incheon United in their first home game of the season this Sunday, with a bumper crowd of over 40,000 expected at the World Cup Stadium.
Both sides got off to a less than satisfactory start to the 2024 season with a loss apiece. Seoul were woeful all over the park and were well beaten by Gwangju on the road, while Incheon succumbed to a very late penalty at home to Suwon FC on the opening day.
We can expect to see changes to both sets of teams after poor showings from the starting elevens last weekend, and with such a large crowd expected the atmosphere is likely to be electric. Meetings between these two sides have been notoriously tasty in recent years, with no less than five red cards being brandished within the last eleven games between them.
This fixture tends to be a low-scoring affair if we are going to go on meetings between the clubs in recent years with three of the last ten games ending 1-1, while the other draw was goalless. Incheon has been victorious in four of those ten, while Seoul has only won twice.
Team news:
I would be surprised to see Choi Chul-won selected in goal for this one after his howler last week. We are also likely to see Park Dong-jin move to the bench after being played at left-back at Gwangju, with potential for new signing Kang Sang-woo to make his debut or Lee Tae-seok get another chance to reclaim his place.
Kim Shin-jin surely has to sit this one out after an appalling performance up-top last week, with Iljutcenko hopeful to step in after looking bright when he came on last time out. The man behind the expected inflated attendance, Jesse Lingard, is in line to make his home debut against Incheon, albeit most likely off the bench once again.
Predicted score: FC Seoul 1-1 Incheon United
EX-POHANG WINGER KANG SANG-WOO SEALS SEOUL MOVE
March 6, 2024
Seoul’s raid on Pohang fan favourites has continued today as wing-back Kang Sang-woo has signed a permanent deal with the club, transferring from Chinese side Beijing Guoan.
Kang made 180 appearances for Pohang Steelers before joining Beijing in 2022, making 59 appearances and scoring 13 goals in the process.
Kang will reunite with a number of old teammates from his Pohang days including Aleksandar Palocevic, Stanislav Iljutcenko, Lim Sang-hyub as well as head coach Kim Gi-dong. He will wear the number 15 shirt for the 2024 season.
GWANGJU DISMANTLE SEOUL WITH EASE ON OPENING DAY
March 2, 2024
Seoul got their 2024 season off to a disastrous start as they were completely outplayed by a ruthless Gwangju side on the opening day of the season.
The home side controlled the ball from start to finish, creating a number of chances as the Seoul midfield and defence looked completely void of ideas. It didn’t take Gwangju long to break the Seoul resolve as they opened the scoring in the 21st minute via a Lee Hee-kyun strike from the edge of the area. Seoul keeper Choi Chul-won probably should have done better to keep the ball out, letting the ball get past him despite getting a hand to the strike.
Gwangju kept pushing forwad and looked desinted to score a second, with Choi being called into action on a number of occasions to keep the score down.
Seoul showed a slight improvement in the second half, but were ultimately unable to cause the Gwangju defence any real issues. Ki Sung-yueng sent one wide from the edge of the area, before Iljutcenko’s headed effort from a Jesse Lingard cross was well saved by the keeper.
Gwangju put the game beyond doubt in the last minute of injury time as Brazilian debutant Gabriel Tigrao found himself completely unmarked from a corner to tap the ball home from close range.
It was one of the worst Seoul performances in recent memory, with Kim Gi-dong getting his team selection and tactics completely wrong in his first game in charge.
Full time result: Gwangju FC 2-0 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS GWANGJU FC MATCH PREVIEW
March 1, 2024
FC Seoul head south to Gwangju this weekend and will look to kick-start their season with a win on the opening day. The capital side have been busy over the winter transfer window as they attempted to soften the blow of losing some key first team figures, and it has been widely accepted that they have been successful in this task.
Further to the player arrivals saw a change of management at the club, with Kim Gi-dong coming in from Pohang. The well versed head coach has had the whole winter to get to grips with his new players and implement his own tactical ideas on the squad, so we will find out in this game how the new boss will look to set up his side this season.
It is always difficult to predict how a new manager will use the new set of players at his disposal, but I think it’s safe to assume that Kim will set up the team to press from the front and be more efficient in possession.
Gwangju will be no pushover however, having had a brilliant season in 2023 for a club of their stature and budget to finish 3rd in the league, thus qualifying for continental football. They have a decent squad with some excellent young players, as well as a coach who likes to play attacking football. The loss of midfielder Lee Soon-min to Daejeon last month will certainly hurt the side, but they will still pose a threat to the bigger clubs in the league regardless.
Team news:
Again, it is always tricky to predict how a team will line-up on the opening day of the season, especially with a new coach in charge of the side. Having made Cho Young-wook vice-captain following his return from Gimcheon, I think it would be safe to assume that he will be the first choice striker this season and will likely start this one. At the back we are likely to see Kwon Wan-kyu paired with Kim Ju-sung, as new arrival Rebin Sulaka will need time to get up to full fitness. Choi Jun could be in line for his debut at right-back, while Baek Jeong-beom is likely to be selected to start between the sticks.
While the whole league is excited to see Jesse Lingard line-up for Seoul this year, he is unlikely to be in the squad for this one due to lack of match fitness. Kim Gi-dong hinted last week that Lingard still needed more time to get up to scratch, although you can never count out a surprise inclusion in the squad.
Score prediction: Gwangju 1-2 FC Seoul
SEOUL COMPLETE SIGNING OF JAPANESE MIDFIELDER
March 1, 2024
FC Seoul ha Japanese midfielder Takuya Shigehiro on a year-long loan from J-League outfit.
The holding midfielder seems surplus to requirements at the Japanese club, only making 18 appearances in the last two years, scoring once.
He is likely to play second fiddle to Ki Sung-yueng and Ryu Jae-moon in the middle of the park. Shigehiro’s signing also means that forgotten man Hosam Aiesh will be ineligible for K-league registration as the Japanese player will fill the ASEAN quote spot this season.
SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED
February 21, 2024
The squad numbers for the 2024 have been released today, with FC Seoul being the last team in the league to reveal their squad with just over a week left to go before the season starts.
Fans had been speculating as to whether Jesse Lingard would take the vacant number 7 shirt that was left vacant following the departure of Na Sang-ho, but the winger has in fact been handed the number 10. It was thought that vice-captain Cho Young-wook would sport the 10 for this season, but it seems he has been robbed of his number to accommodate the new super star. Cho will wear 32 in 2024, the same number that he worse during his rookie seasons at the club.
Elsewhere, Kim Wan-kyu has been handed the number 3 shirt, suggesting that he may see more minutes this season. Lim Sang-hyub, whom is expected to struggle to find his place in the squad this season, was handed the number 7. New signing Rebin Sulaka will wear the number 14, while the number 13 has been retired in recognition of club legend Go Yo-han’s contribution to the club following his retirement a few weeks ago.
OFFICIAL: REBIN SULAKA SIGNS FOR FC SEOUL
February 21, 2024
FC Seoul have today announced the signing of Iraq international defender Rebin Sulaka on a free transfer. The move had been reported to be in the works for the past few weeks, with Seoul finally getting their man as they look to find reinforcements at the back.
Sulaka most recently played for IF Brommapojkarna in the Swedish top flight, making just 7 appearances. The six-foot-three defender is unlikely to be included in the squad that travels to Gwangju on the opening day due to lack of match fitness, but will surely looking to get up to speed quickly and cement his place in the centre of Seoul’s defence. He will wear the number 14 shirt for the 2024 season.
IRAQ INTERNATIONAL SET TO SIGN FOR FC SEOUL
February 17, 2024
FC Seoul are close to securing the signature of Iraqi centre-half Rebin Sulaka on a free transfer, according to various reports.
31 year-old Sulaka has been without a club since the start of the new year after being released by Swedish outfit Brommapojkarna. He has turned out for Thai side Buriram United and Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia in recent years, but will now make the switch to the K-league to line-up alongside Kim Ju-sung in the heart of the Seoul backline.
Sulaka, whom has dual Iraqi and Swedish citizenship, has also been capped 25 times at full international level by Iraq.
An official announcement is expected in the next few days.
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NEW KITS RELEASED
February 16, 2024
FC Seoul have today released images of the new kit designs that the team will sport during the 2024 season. The fans have been bombarding the club’s social media pages for weeks asking when the strips will be revealed and made available for purchase, with many stressing that the kits will be released too close to the start of the season.
The design of the new home kit sees the iconic black and red stripes being minimised to one side of the shirt, while the away kit remains white with colour tinted edges on the sleeve and collar.
Sales will begin on February 22nd, while the prices are yet to be announced.
SEOUL LINKED TO TAJIK DEFENDER
February 11, 2024
FC Seoul are looking into the possibility of signing Tajikstan international centre-half Vakhdat Khanonov, according to reports coming out of Iran.
It is no secret that Seoul are in the market for a foreign central defender following the departure of club legend Osmar at the end of last year, with Khanonov seemingly fitting the bill perfectly.
The 23 year-old currently plays his football for Iranian side Persepolis, having joined them in 2021 from Tajik side FC Istiklol. He has made 36 appearances for the Persian side, scoring once, while picking up 31 full international caps for Tajikstan in his career.
OFFICIAL: JESSE LINGARD SIGNS FOR FC SEOUL
February 8, 2024
FC Seoul have announced that Jesse Lingard has today put pen-to-paper and signed a two-year contract with the capital club, with the option of a third year extension.
In what seems like a whirlwind of a week since the news first broke about the club’s intention to sign the ex-England international, fans of the club can finally breathe a sigh of relief and begin to get excited following the announcement that Lingard has officially joined FC Seoul.
The club staged a press conference this afternoon to announce Lingard’s signing, with the 31 year-old claiming that he ‘can’t wait’ to get back to playing football, and that he chose to join Seoul over other clubs after Seoul ‘officials showed their sincerity by going to Manchester’ to check on his condition in person and not just offering a verbal agreement like other clubs had done.
Lingard will head to Japan tomorrow to join up with his new teammates at their training camp, and could be in line to make his debut on the first day of the season away at Gwangju.
KI SUNG-YUENG NAMED CAPTAIN FOR THE SEASON
February 6, 2024
Kim Gi-dong has chosen to appoint Ki Sung-yueng as club captain for this year’s K-league campaign, with the returning Cho Young-wook picked as the second-in-command.
Ki was seemingly the de-facto captain last year as he lead the majority of the team talks, while giving guidance to young players in the squad despite Osmar being named the official skipper. Ki’s last run as official captain was back in 2022 when Ahn Ik-soo decided to switch captaincy mid-way through the season, before rescinding his decision later down the line.
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LINGARD FEVER HITS SEOUL AS MOVE DRAWS CLOSER
February 5, 2024
Fans of FC Seoul have been sent into a frenzy following the announcement that Jesse Lingard could soon be lining up in the club’s black and red stripes. While many were initially skeptical about the stories coming out with regards to the move, fans are finally starting to believe after a number of high profile media outlets picked up on the story.
Lingard took to social media to post a picture of himself checking into a Korean Air flight this morning, indicating that he is in fact on his way to Korea to discuss terms and potentially sign a deal. A number of fans have been tracking the winger’s flight from London to Incheon and will head to the airport to greet him upon arrival.
The vast majority of fans are thrilled with the potential signing of what will be the K-league’s biggest ever transfer and see this as a turning point in the club’s recent history. Despite not having played for almost a year, Lingard still has the ability to hit the ground running and get a hatful of goals for the club if everything goes to plan. It will be interesting to see how the former England international can adapt to a new culture and a different league, but we will hopefully see him bring a positive energy to the club and the league as a whole. Watch this space….
GO YO-HAN HANGS UP HIS BOOTS
February 2, 2024
FC Seoul club legend and ‘one-club-man’ Go Yo-han has today announced his retirement from football, bringing to an end his twenty year playing career at the capital club at the age of 35.
Nobody in FC Seoul history has made more appearances than Go, with the utility man having amassed an incredible tally of 446 games in the black and red stripes. He was also capped 21 times for his country and even played in the 2018 World Cup. Go made his professional debut in 2006, coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 home defeat Jeonnam Dragons in the K-league.
In a show of respect to his legacy at FC Seoul, the club will retire the number 13 shirt that he famously wore during the prime of his career. Go will now become a coach of the u18 side at Osan High School.
JESSE LINGARD CLOSE TO SEALING SHOCK MOVE TO FC SEOUL
February 2, 2024
In a story resembling a move from Football Manager, it is being widely reported that former Manchester United and England international winger Jesse Lingard is close to agreeing a two-year deal with FC Seoul.
Seoul fans were in disbelief this morning after the news slowly began to trickle into the Korean media sites, having initially been reported by Sky Sports News in the U.K. Fans took to the message boards to express their disbelief at the move, with the vast majority over the moon with the club’s move for the Englishman.
Lingard has been without a club since June 2023 when he was released from Nottingham Forest following a season in which he made 20 appearances and scored twice for the club. It is believed that he has been taking trials at various clubs around the Middle East and Turkey, with no clubs interested in taking him on permanently.
Despite his chequered history Lingard would be a massive coup for both FC Seoul and the K-league, with both likely to capitalize on the player’s worldwide stardom in one way or another.
KI SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION, KIM JIN-KYU RETURNS
January 27, 2024
FC Seoul have this week announced that two club legends will remain with the side for the coming season.
Ki Sung-yueng finally put an end to the speculation regarding his future at Seoul after agreeing an extension to his contract with the club, effectively committing the remainder of his career the capital side.
Last year’s interim coach Kim Jin-kyu has also returned after being released from duty due to the capture of new boss Kim Gi-dong. Kim will work closely with the scouting team and attempt to identify young talent.
ALL QUIET ON THE TRANSFER FRONT AT SEOUL
January 20, 2024
While other clubs around the league have moved quickly to strengthen their squads this pre-season, it has so far been an uninspiring transfer window for FC Seoul as links with reinforcements going cold or non-existent.
The club acted quickly to bring in Choi Jun from Busan and Ryu Jae-moon from Jeonbuk, but have yet to address the need for new players in some vital positions.
The departure of club captain Osmar has left a huge gap in the centre of defence, one that will take a whole lot of work to fill. The club legend has been deemed irreplaceable by the fans, with the younger members in the squad who play in the same position unlikely to be ready to make the step-up.
Australian centre-half Miloš Degenek has been loosely linked with a move to the club after it was noted that he had started following (and then unfollowed) FC Seoul’s instagram page, but little has come to fruition since. Degenek could prove to be an excellent replacement for Osmar if the club were to pull it off with the defender capped 44 times at international level, and currently playing with Hwang In-beom at Red Star Belgrade.
Seoul could also find themselves lacking depth in the midfield following Na Sang-ho’s departure and Ki Sung-yueng still not committing to a new contract. Losing the side’s top goal scorer and assist provider is a massive blow, and will have to be remedied by goals coming from other areas.
While there is a decent bounty of younger players in the centre of midfield, losing Ki would significantly lower the quality of the side. This combined with the absences of Osmar and Na Sang-ho, FC Seoul could be in for a tough season if things are addressed before the season begins.
LEE TAE-SEOK RE-SIGNS ~ FIXTURES RELEASED
January 15, 2023
Lee Tae-seok has ended any speculation regarding his future at the club after signing a new contract this past week. The highly-touted left-back took longer than expected to put pen to paper, but fans were confident that a deal would be reached after seeing his name listed in the group that travelled to Thailand for pre-season.
In other news, the K-league have today released the full fixture list for the 2024 season. Seoul will begin their campaign on March 2nd with an away trip to Gwangju, followed by a home game with rivals Incheon United the following week. Their final game of the season before the split-rounds will also see them travel to Gwangju on October 6th.
NA SANGO-HO LEAVES THE CLUB ~ FURTHER CONTRACT EXTENSIONS ANNOUNCED
January 8, 2024
Na Sang-ho’s departure from FC Seoul was confirmed today with the club posting a farewell video to their social media pages.
Na was seen saying goodbye to his teammates, before thanking the fans for their support during a short interview. He is expected to sign with Japanese side Machida Zelvia in the near future.
In more positive news, another round of contract extensions were announced today with a number of promising players committing their future to the club.
Young goalkeeper Baek Jeong-beom put pen to paper to continue his journey with the club, while Hwang Hyun-soo, Baek Sang-hoon, Seo Ju-hwan, Ahn Jae-min and Son Seung-beom also signed new deals.
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TRANSFER UPDATES
January 5, 2024
There has been a hive of activity at FC Seoul over the past week with a number of high profile moves in and out of the club.
Seven players were either released from their contracts or not offered new deals, with the biggest names being those of Ji Dong-won and Bjorn Johnsen. Ji struggled with injuries during his two year stint with the club, while Johnson scored once since being recruited in the summer. The other released players were Jeong Hyun-cheol, Kang Sang-hee, Kim Jin-sung, Kim Song-min and Kim Yoon-gyeom.
Six players have returned to the club following loan spells, namely Park Dong-jin, Lim Min-hyeok, Jung Han-min, Kwon Sung-yun, Cha Oh-yeon and Lee Seung-jae.
Seoul also dipped into the market this week, acquiring the services of defensive midfielder Ryu Jae-moon on a free from Jeonbuk, as well as wing-back Choi Jun from Busan I’Park.
Finally, it was revealed that midfielder Aleksander Palocevic has agreed to a contract extension that will see him remain at the club for at least another two seasons.
OSMAR RETURNING TO SEOUL ALREADY WITH E-LAND MOVE IMMINENT
December 29, 2023
Despite receiving an emotional farewell from Seoul fans only days prior, club legend Osmar is reported to be close to signing a shock deal with K2 side Seoul E-Land.
It was initially reported that Osmar would be moving to a side in either the Malaysian or Thai league, but E-land have emerged as surprise front runners to clinch his signature.
The Spaniard seemingly left a number of breadcrumbs with regards to the move in his farewell interview, hinting that he could be moving to somewhere ‘close’ to Seoul in the near future.
Despite E-Land supposedly being a ‘rival’ of FC Seoul, it is unlikely that any fan would hold any resentment should he decide to move there following his years of impeccable service to the club.
FC SEOUL 2023 SEASON AWARDS
December
It’s that time of year again where we at FC Seoul English take a look back over some of our predictions for the past season and compare them to what actually unfolded in 2023. See the results below:
Top scorer:
Predicted: Stanislav Iljutcenko
Actual: Na Sang-ho
Most assists:
Predicted: Na Sang-ho
Actual: Na Sang-ho / Ki Sung-yueng
Most consistent:
Predicted: Osmar
Actual: Osmar
Most exciting:
Predicted: Han Seung-gyu
Actual: Willyan
Best signing:
Predicted: Lim Sang-hyub
Actual: Willyan
Breakthrough star:
Predicted: Baek Sang-hoon
Actual: Kim Ju-sung
Worst discipline:
Predicted: Lee Tae-seok
Actual: Osmar
Player of the season:
Predicted: Aleksander Palocevic
Actual: Willyan
Young player of the season:
Predicted: Kang Seong-jin
Actual: Kim Ju-sung
FC Seoul's final standing:
Predicted: 3rd
Actual: 7th
Correct result predictions: 5/39
Correct score predictions: 19/39
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SEOUL LINKED TO BUSAN WING-BACK
December 28, 2023
Seoul have today been linked to a move for Busan I’Park’s defensive wing-back Choi Jun as they look to find cover for the outgoing Park Soo-il.
24 year-old Choi is known as a versatile player whom can play on either side of the pitch and made 33 appearances for Busan in 2023. He was also part of the national side that won the Asian Games in 2023, winning himself exemption from mandatory national service.
OSMAR LEAVES FC SEOUL
December 21, 2023
FC Seoul legend Osmar Ibanez has left the club following the expiration of his contract, bringing to an end his near ten-year spell with the capital side.
Hundreds of fans assembled at the airport to see off their club captain, whom will become a free agent as of January 1st.
Osmar played 344 games for FC Seoul, scoring 25 goals and assisting 13 goals in that time. He was the first Spanish player in the K-league, among the first to captain a side in the league and went on to win the K-league title and the F.A. Cup with the side one time each.
His departure truly marks the end of an era for FC Seoul, with many fans believing that the hole left by his absence will be almost impossible to fill.
SEOUL SUPPORTERS GROUP HOLD ANNUAL MEETING
December 19, 2023
Members from various FC Seoul supporters groups (collectively known as the ‘Suhoshin’ or ‘Guardians’) met last week to discuss ways in which to improve the fan experience and atmosphere ahead of the 2024 season.
The meeting concluded with a number of motions being passed that the group will attempt to implicate during the season ahead. They are as follows:
Change of supporter club Chairman
Replacing the old banner in the stadium
Celebrating the 20th year of Suhoshin
Creation of a Suhoshin documentary
Inclusion of smaller fan groups
‘QR Project’ and new stadium guide
Better safety precautions in cheering zone.
The group will release more details on each point mentioned at a later date.
KIM GI-DONG CONFIRMED AS NEW MANAGER OF FC SEOUL
December 14, 2023
FC Seoul have today confirmed that Kim Gi-dong will become the club’s 15th manager after completing a move from Pohang Steelers.
Kim takes over from interim boss Kim Jin-kyu following a poor season at Sangam that saw Ahn Ik-soo resign from his post in August.
Kim Gi-dong leaves Pohang after four and-a-half years as head coach with the east-coast club having won the FA Cup this year.
2023 SEASON RECAP
December 13, 2023
Clink the link below to read about how FC Seoul’s 2023 season played out…
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OSMAR LINKED WITH MOVE TO MALAYSIA
December 12, 2023
FC Seoul club legend Osmar Ibáñez is the latest player to be linked with a move away from the club, according to various online reports.
The defensive stalwart is rumoured to be joining Malaysian side Kedah FC as he looks to wind down his playing career in a less competitive league.
Despite Osmar approaching 36 years of age, his absence next year would be a huge loss for Seoul. Aside from being the current club captain, the Spaniard always displays great leadership qualities both on-and-off the pitch, and was one of the side’s best performers over the course of this season.
SEOUL MOVE FOR POHANG BOSS KIM GI-DONG
December 11, 2023
It is being widely reported that FC Seoul are moving to acquire the services of Pohang Steelers’ head coach Kim Gi-dong, as the club continues their search for a permanent manager after another lacklustre season at Sangam.
Kim is a highly regarded coach whose Pohang teams have performed way above the level expected of them in recent seasons, playing an attractive style of football along the way. Coach Kim has received plenty of plaudits for the way he sets his teams up, and has gone on to perform well on the continent as well.
Pohang managed to top Group J whilst going undefeated in this year’s Asian Champions League group stage, and also won this year’s FA Cup under Kim’s tutelage.
If Seoul are able to secure Kim’s signature it would mark a huge coup for the club as they look to get back into K-league and continental contention next season.
WILLYAN SET TO SIGN PERMANENT DEAL WITH SEOUL
December 7, 2023
FC Seoul are close to making Willyan’s move from Daejeon a permanent one after triggering a clause in his loan contract, according to reports.
Willyan moved to the capital club from newly promoted Daejeon before the start of the 2023 season, going on to make a strong impression during his time at the club.
The Brazilian winger made 33 appearances for Seoul this season, scoring 8 goals and laying on 2 assists. He was also crowned club player of the month on three occasions.
NA SANG-HO SET TO MOVE TO J-LEAGUE?
December 4, 2023
Despite the K-league’s body still being warm after finishing just a day ago, rumours are already circulating that FC Seoul starlet Na Sang-ho is close to sealing a move away from the club.
Sources from Japan have indicated that current J-League 2 champions FC Machida Zelvia are looking to bring Na back to the league as they prepare for life in the top flight next season.
Na had a previous stint in Japan back in 2019 when he turned out for FC Tokyo, making 33 appearances and scoring 3 goals.
Na’s departure would be a huge blow for FC Seoul if came to fruition, with the winger ending this season as the club’s top goal scorer and joint-top assist provider.
SEOUL DROP POINTS AT THE DEATH TO END SEASON WITH A DRAW
December 2, 2023
A youthful Seoul side were unlucky to come away with just a single point as they conceded an injury time equaliser on the last day of the 2023 season in Daejeon.
Caretaker boss Kim Jin-kyu decided to wring the changes for the trip south as the side’s final league position had already been confirmed in the previous weeks.
Seoul Wonderkid Kang Seong-jin showed some clever footwork before unleashing a decent strike in just the 3rd minute, with the Daejeon keeper scrambling to push the ball wide.
Kang went one better just two minutes later as he found space in the box to get onto the end of Park Soo-il’s cross from the left, prodding the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 to the away side.
Daejeon hit back in the 22nd minute after a innocuous long ball into the box was brilliantly headed into the top corner from distance by an unmarked Thiago to make it 1-1.
Park Soo-il went close to regaining Seoul’s lead with a powerful effort that sailed narrowly wide in the 30th minute, before Thiago tested Hwang Seong-min in the Seoul goal with a long range effort on the stroke of half-time.
Iljutcenko and Na Sang-ho were brought on after the break, with Na being denied a penalty after VAR consultation after being brought down in the box in the 50th minute. This would also be Na’s final involvement in the game as the challenged forced him off the field on a stretcher with what appeared to be a back injury.
Seoul took the lead for a second time in the 62nd minute via another brilliant effort from Kang Seong-jin. Ji Dong-won played a clever through ball into Kang just inside the Daejeon area, with the tricky winger showing an excellent touch and turn to evade a defender before slotting the ball inside the near post for his second of the game.
Iljutcenko appeared to have put the game beyond doubt in the 84th minute as he latched onto a clever through ball before slotting past the keeper, before the linesman flag was raised for a narrow offside infringement.
Daejeon managed to draw things level with practically the last kick of the game with the 97th minute of play approaching. The Seoul defenders were caught ball watching following a long ball into the box from a free-kick, allowing Shin Sang-eun to ghost in behind and blast the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-2 on the day.
Despite the late disappointment the young Seoul side could hold their heads high after a solid performance against a strong Daejeon side as the 2023 season drew to a close for FC Seoul.
Full time result: Daejeon Hana Citizen 2-2 FC Seoul
DAEJEON HANA CITIZEN VS FC SEOUL FINAL DAY MATCH PREVIEW
December 1, 2023
FC Seoul will be looking to end their season on a high-note as they travel south to take on Daejeon on the final day of the season.
The game is something of a dead rubber with both sides’ final league position already confirmed, meaning that whatever the outcome Seoul will finish in 7th and Daejeon in 8th.
Nevertheless, both sides will surely be hopeful of sending their fans away happy on the final day of the season, but could perhaps look to use the game as a tester for different formations or younger players to come in.
FC Seoul are without a win since their dramatic comeback victory over Suwon FC at the back end of October, while Daejeon comfortably beat Jeju in their last outing in Seogwipo.
Seoul have failed to get a win against Daejeon in three attempts this season, with two away defeats and a goalless home draw being recorded before this weekend’s game.
Team news:
Seoul will be without Ki Sung-yueng, Osmar and Go Yo-han due to suspensions following the ill-tempered defeat to Suwon Bluewings last weekend. Lee Tae-seok is likely to miss out again due to injury, while Cho Young-wook is unlikely to feature despite returning to the club this week from Gimcheon Sangmu.
The club have this week released pictures of a number of youth players training with the first team, so we could see a number of the youngsters feature in this one.
Predicted score: Daejeon Hana 2-0 FC Seoul
SHAMEFUL PERFORMANCES BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD SEE SEOUL GIFT SUWON SURVIVAL CHANCE
November 25, 2023
It is not unusual for the playing staff of FC Seoul to hang their heads in shame at the final whistle after putting in a less than desirable performance on the pitch, although it is something extra special when the entire coaching staff need do the same.
Seoul put in a truly flaccid display as they were beaten by Suwon Bluewings this afternoon, failing to cause any real issues for the visitors in the final third, while a number of moments of petulance led to further embarrassment.
The game itself was scrappy from the get-go with no neither side being able to hold on to possession for a prolonged period of time. The fierce support from both ends of the stadium definitely helped to add some needle to the game as the players got well stuck into other at every opportunity.
The first real chance of the game didn’t arrive until the 38th minute when Suwon’s Acosty tested Baek Jeong-beom from long range, with the keeper being forced into a smart diving save down to his right.
Baek was on hand to keep the scores level once again on the stroke of half-time as he did brilliantly to block a close range effort from Bassani after a scramble in the area.
Bassani would later manage to have the beating of Baek however, as his excellent solo effort broke the deadlock in the 64th minute. A mix up between Ki and Osmar just inside the Seoul half lead to the Suwon winger being able to collect the ball, stride towards the edge of the area unchallenged and lash a strike into the bottom corner to send the away fans wild.
Suwon almost doubled their lead just two minutes later when Bassani burst forward before finding Mulic in the area. Baek Jeong-beom came good again with a smart block to keep Seoul in the game.
The Seoul forwards were kept at bay with a seeming degree of ease by the Suwon backline, being forced into having a go from distance on a number of occasions with nothing to show for it.
Things went from bad to worse in the 86th minute after Osmar was dismissed for an awful challenge on Kim Joo-chan after the referee decided to consult VAR over the incident.
Mulic had a free-kick saved by Baek, before going inches wide with an effort after a clever break-away from Suwon. With the Seoul keeper scampering to get back after going up for a corner, Mulic failed to put his last ditch effort on target to kill the game off.
The game then descended into chaos in the last few minutes of time added as a petulant push from Ki Sung-yueng led to an all out brawl, with both benches running in to add fuel to the fire. A member of Seoul’s coaching staff was sent to the stands for punching and then pulling the hair of a Suwon player in disgraceful scenes that will likely lead to a heavier punishment in the coming weeks.
Seoul’s inability to find a way through one of the worst defences in the league will no doubt lead to concern for interim coach Kim Jin-kyu, while the disgraceful manner in which the players and staff behaved in the dying minutes is something that they should take time to reflect on.
Full time result: FC Seoul 0-1 Suwon Bluewings
FC SEOUL VS SUWON BLUEWINGS SUPERMATCH PREVIEW
November 24, 2023
FC Seoul are set to take on fierce rivals and relegation candidates Suwon Samsung Bluewings in their final home game of the 2023 season.
This game has the added appeal of Seoul being able to relegate Suwon to the K-league 2 if they win and Gangwon are able to beat Suwon FC at home.
Suwon will no doubt be fighting for their lives as they look to avoid the double humiliation of not only being relegated, but by the hand of their most hated rivals FC Seoul.
FC Seoul have come out on top of all three of the previous games between these sides this season, with a 3-1 home victory back in April followed by two 1-0 away wins in June and April.
With a number of Seoul first team players linked with moves away from the club in the off-season it will be interesting to see how certain players react to the fans on the final home game of the season. Kim Joo-sung, Na Sang-ho and Aleksandar Palocevic in particular are names that have been linked with moves away from the club in the near future.
Team news:
Goalkeeper Choi Chul-won has returned to full training this week but is unlikely to feature in such an important game due to lack of match fitness.
Lee Tae-seok remains on the sidelines and is likely to be deputised by Lee Is-young.
Score prediction: FC Seoul 2-0 Suwon Bluewings
FANS ANTICIPATE FINAL SUPERMATCH OF THE YEAR
November 23, 2023
FC Seoul supporters group ’Suhoshin’ have announced that they will be putting together a special display during this weekend’s final Supermatch (and last home game) of the season.
The group plan to distribute cans of ‘snow-spray’ to fans as they enter the N-block entrance of the stadium, and have asked fans to bring a couple of cans each in case their stock runs out.
The plan is to collectively release the spray at a certain point in the game, as the home fans look to create an atmosphere and pile more pressure on their fierce rivals Suwon Bluewings.
Any Supermatch is always the highlight of any FC Seoul fans’ season, although this weekend’s game could potentially be even more special. With Suwon sitting rock-bottom of the K-league 1 with two games left, a win for Seoul and other results going their way could see the Bluewings relegated from the top-flight; something that would fuel unlimited bragging rights for Seoulites for decades to come.
The atmosphere is sure to be electric on Saturday afternoon regardless, with Suwon already having sold out their allocation, with Sangam bosses now considering whether to open up further sections of the stadium for the visitors.
IMPOTENT SEOUL FAIL TO IMPRESS IN GOALLESS DRAW AT JEJU
November 11, 2023
FC Seoul were unable to find a breakthrough and extend their winning streak after failing to get a single shot on target from fourteen attempts in their goalless bore-draw with Jeju.
Jeju had the better chances in the first half, while Seoul struggled to find any inspiration in the final third. Baek Jeong-beom was forced to make a couple of decent saves, while Willyan’s long range drive sailed just wide of the post in the 34th minute.
Ji Dong-won sent a header wide from a Ki Sung-yueng free-kick just after the restart, before Na Sang-ho saw an effort cleared after a mazy run in the 60th.
Iljutcenko thought he had scored shortly after having knocked in a rebound from a Na Sang-ho effort, but the linesman’s flag was raised for off-side.
Baek Jeong-Beom suffered a heavy knock in the dying moments after coming out to retrieve a cross into the box, with the referee deciding to end the game there so the players could receive treatment.
It was a dire game in all honesty, with neither side showing any sort of quality. Seoul were unable to find a single shot on target despite having five strikers on the field at one point in the second half.
Full time result: Jeju United 0-0 FC Seoul
JEJU UNITED VS FC SEOUL MATCH PREVIEW
November 10, 2023
FC Seoul will head to Jeju for the third and final time this season on Saturday as look to extend their winning streak to three.
The game is something of a dead rubber with neither side able to progress any higher than 7th after the split, while Jeju have already confirmed their safety in the top division for next season.
Seoul have gone unbeaten since their humiliating home loss to Jeonbuk on the final regular game of the season which saw them drop into the bottom half of the split, with wins over Gangwon and Suwon seeing them top the bottom half.
Jeju have only played one league game following the split which resulted in a 1-1 draw away to Gangwon. They will be looking to bounce back after losing out to Pohang in the FA Cup Semi-finals last week via penalties.
Of the three games between the sides so far this season Seoul have won both games away at Seogwipo, while the sides drew the game at Sangam.
Team news:
Stanislav Iljutcenko has returned to full training and will be available following an injury. Lee Tae-seok is thought to still be another week away from full fitness so will likely be rested again.
Score prediction: Jeju United 1-2 FC Seoul
SEOUL SNATCH DRAMATIC LATE WINNER IN SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
October 29, 2023
Just when it appeared that Seoul had thrown away yet more points this season, Kim Kyeong-min pounced to score an injury time winner with his first touch of the game.
It was the home side that opened the scoring however, with an almost ‘prime Barcelona-esque’ move down the left leading to ex-Jeonbuk winger Lopes slotting past the keeper.
Seoul pushed forward after this in search of an equaliser, with chances falling to Kim Shin-jin, Willyan and Ki Sung-yueng that were unfortunately not converted.
It wasn’t until the second half when Seoul found their first goal of the game, which came in unusual circumstances. Ki Sung-yueng attempted to pick out the run of Na Sang-ho with a long ball from inside his own half. The ball ended up evading Na, taking a heavy bounce inside the box and going over the keeper and into the net to make it 1-1.
Seoul then went ahead through yet another brilliant piece of individual skill from Willyan just two minutes later. The Brazilian twisted and turned his way past a couple of defenders inside the box before slotting home to make it 2-1.
The lead wouldn’t last long however, as Suwon hit back seven minutes later via Lee Seung-woo. The Seoul defence failed to clear a long ball into the box from a free-kick, with Lee managing to get onto a knock-back to prod the ball over the line to tie things up at 2-2.
Seoul went back ahead less than ten minutes later, with Bjorn Johnsen getting his first goal for the club with pretty much his first touch. Willyan’s ball into the box found Kim Shin-jin, with his strike coming back off the bar from close range. Johnsen was on hand to poke in the rebound to put Seoul 3-2 up with 15 minutes to go.
It appeared that the visitors were home and dry as the game grew into injury time, yet there was still plenty of drama yet to unfold. Suwon were awarded a penalty in the 92nd minute after the referee adjudged that Osmar’s aerial challenge on Yoon Bit-garam was in fact a foul, with Lopes once again stepping up to slot home.
With the game tied at 3-3 deep into injury time, in came Kim Kyeong-min to break Suwon hearts and send Seoul home with all three points.
Kang Seong-jin was able to pick out Johnsen in the box, with his flick on header falling to Kim, who was able to control the ball with his head before prodding it over the line to send the Seoul fans wild.
It was a truly unforgettable end to a brilliant game of football.
Full time result: Suwon FC 3-4 FC Seoul
FC SEOUL VS SUWON FC MATCH PREVIEW
October 27, 2023
FC Seoul will be looking to build on last week’s victory over Gangwon as they make the short trip south to take on relegation contenders Suwon FC for the fourth time this season.
The two sides met as recently as the end of September when the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw at the Suwon Civic Stadium. Seoul have won one and lost one in the two games since then, while Suwon have drawn both of their games in that time.
Seoul have beaten Suwon on the other two occasions that the sides have met this season, including a historic 7-2 home victory back in July. Suwon are without a win from their last five and will be desperate to give themselves some breathing space between themselves and Gangwon in 11th.
Team news:
Iljutcenko will miss out once again due to injury, so we could perhaps see Kim Shin-jin return to the line-up.
Lee Tae-seok is also nursing a knock so will miss out.
Predicted score: Suwon FC 1-3 FC Seoul
SEOUL SCRAPE WIN THANKS TO JI'S LATE WINNER
October 22, 2023
FC Seoul were lucky to come away with all three points from today’s game against Gangwon, with neither side managing to put on a good performance in the first game after the split.
Seoul did start the game brightly however, with chances from Park Soo-il, Willyan and Lee Is-young all narrowly missing the target from distance.
As the first-half dragged on neither side were able to find their rhythm, with both seemingly content to play long balls over the top to little avail.
Seoul should have taken the lead just 30 seconds after the restart for the second-half, with some slick play down the right allowing Kim Shin-jin space to shoot. The young forward shanked his chance however, with the ball rolling just wide of the far post.
The home side did manage to go ahead thanks to Na Sang-ho’s heavily deflected free-kick in the 52nd minute from the edge of the area.
Kim Shin-jin and Han Seung-gyu spurned another couple of guilt-edged chances ten minutes later, before Gangwon hit back following an always inevitable mistake at the back from Seoul.
Osmar struggled to deal with a ball into the box from the right, with the veteran centre-half sliding the ball into the path of Gangwon forward Gabriel who was more than happy to slot the ball home in the 77th minute.
Seoul managed to bounce back just three minutes later via Ji Dong-won, a player whom was without a goal for over two years before today. Ji reacted fasted after Park Soo-il’s initial header had been blocked by the keeper, with the forward on hand to nod it over the line to give Seoul the points.
Full time result: FC Seoul 2-1 Gangwon FC
FC SEOUL VS GANGWON FC MATCH PREVIEW
October 18, 2023
Seoul will face the unenviable task of winning over a disgruntled Sangam this Sunday as they look to get back to winning ways in the first game of the post-season split.
The players have had the international break to stew over their recent failings, and will no doubt be raring to go against a Gangwon side that is fighting for their lives at the bottom end of the table.
Seoul have only managed two wins from their last ten games, with their last game before the break ending in a 2-0 home defeat to Jeonbuk Hyundai.
Gangwon have been in even worse form, winning just twice from their last TWENTY games, leaving them just one point above Suwon Samsung and the automatic relegation spot.
FC Seoul have the far superior side on paper, but Gangwon have managed to beat Seoul once already this season in the first of their three meetings, with a win for Seoul and a draw following in the others.
Team news:
Baek Jeong-Beom will likely keep his place between the sticks for this one. Palocevic is sure to drop back into the midfield after playing as a second striker to little avail last time out, while Willyan could be recalled to the starting eleven on the left wing in place of Kang Seong-jin.
Score prediction: FC Seoul 2-0 Gangwon FC
POST SEASON SPLIT FIXTURES RELEASED
October 10, 2023
The K-league has announced the fixtures for the final five games of the season as FC Seoul look to navigate the relegation split and push themselves up the table.
FC Seoul’s fixtures are as follows:
Sunday, October 22nd: Gangwon FC (Home)
Sunday, October 29th: Suwon FC (Away)
Saturday, November 11th: Jeju United (Away)
Saturday, November 25th: Suwon Samsung (Home)
Saturday, December 2nd: Daejeon Hana Citizen (Away)
JEONBUK END SEOUL'S HOPES OF A TOP-SIX SPLIT FOLLOWING DEFEAT AT SANGAM
October 8, 2023
FC Seoul’s chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League were dealt a huge blow today as the capital side were beaten by rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Despite being the better side for the majority of the game, Seoul were unable to put the finishing touches on their lengthy spells of possession and were ultimately made to pay by a more clinical Jeonbuk side that was able to put away their chances when they came.
As we have seen so many times already this season, Seoul’s sloppiness at the back almost saw them concede in just the 3rd minute of the game as a Jeonbuk pounced on a loose pass inside the home side’s box. Baek Jeong-beom was forced into making a smart block with his feet to keep the scores level.
This did seem to give Seoul a wake-up call, with Na Sang-ho getting forward and putting the Jeonbuk defence on their heels at every opportunity within the next quarter of an hour. Na forced the Jeonbuk keeper into a couple of decent saves and looked to have their defence at sixes and sevens with his mazy runs.
Na was once again able to evade the Jeonbuk defenders’ attention in first-half injury time as he bore down on goal before lashing a powerful effort into the bottom corner to put Seoul one-up and send the crowd into raptures. This was short-lived however, as the referee consulted VAR before chalking off the goal despite Na clearly being onside when receiving the ball.
Na continued to knock on the Jeonbuk door after the restart with a couple of decent efforts, before Iljutcenko forced the keeper into another good save in the 57th minute. There was a growing feeling that Seoul would be made to pay for their inability to find the finishing touches to their play as the game ticked on.
This came to fruition in the 60th minute as a slack piece of defending allowed Jeonbuk to break and slide a ball into the box, evading Osmar and a last ditch effort from Na Sang-ho, before being slotted home by Han Gyo-wan to put the visitors into the lead.
This seemed to take the wind out of the Seoul sails, and divert it firmly into the away side’s as they pushed forward in search of a second. Gustavo forced a good save from Baek with a volleyed effort, before the Brazilian did manage to beat the keeper with a powerful headed effort in the 75th minute to make it 2-0.
Seoul huffed and puffed for the last fifteen minutes of the game, but were ultimately unable to blow down Jeonbuk’s resolve, leaving the fans frustrated at yet another defeat at the hands of their rivals.
Full time result: FC Seoul 0-2 Jeonbuk Hyundai
FC SEOUL VS JEONBUK HYUNDAI MATCH PREVIEW
October 7, 2023
FC Seoul will have to overcome bogie side Jeonbuk Hyundai this Sunday if they are to strengthen their hopes of claiming one of the champions league qualification spots, in what will be the last game of the regular season.
Seoul will only need a point to make sure that they ensure a top half finish before the league splits in two, while a defeat and Incheon getting something away at Ulsan would see Seoul finish in the bottom half of the table.
While Jeonbuk have been struggling for form of late, Seoul always struggle to put up any resolve against the visitors. The first meeting between the sides this season ended in a 1-1 draw at Sangam, while Jeonbuk won the second 2-1 in Jeonju thanks to a late winner from Cho Gue-sung on his last appearance for the club.
Seoul come into the game off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw away to strugglers Suwon FC. Jeonbuk have also been struggling of late as they were well beaten by Daegu at home in their last K-league game, before losing 3-2 to Bangkok United midweek in the Champions League.
Team news:
Goalkeeper Choi Chul-won suffered an injury to his arm during last weekend’s draw at Suwon and is expected to be out for a while. Baek Jeong-beom is likely to deputise.
Aleksandar Palocevic is once again available for selection having completed his ban for accumulating too many yellow cards, and is expected to start this one.
Predicted score: FC Seoul 1-1 Jeonbuk Hyundai
CHO YOUNG-WOOK TO RETURN TO SEOUL AFTER ASIAN GAMES HEROICS
October 7, 2023
FC Seoul starlet Cho Young-wook is set to return to the club from military side Gimcheon Sangmu after the forward’s match winning goal in the Asian Games final meant that the gold medal winners would be exempt from mandatory military duty.
Cho has already completed a large portion of his compulsory 18-month stint with K2 side Gimcheon Sangmu, scoring 13 goals and laying on 5 assists this season.
The 24-year old will need to complete another three weeks of compulsory military training before returning to FC Seoul before the end of the season.
SEOUL HELD TO DRAW BY RESILIENT SUWON
September 30, 2023
Fans of FC Seoul were left disappointed as the side came away from what should have been a ‘gimme’ three-points of a game against Suwon FC with a 1-1 draw after a lacklustre display.
Seoul struggled to break down the home side in the opening moments, and were forced into more sideways passes than they would have liked. Despite the gulf in class between the two sides on paper, Seoul looked the lesser of the two sides as Suwon fought valiantly to get something from the game. The home side forced Choi Chul-won into a number of saves in the first-half, while Seoul barely managed to trouble the Suwon keeper whatsoever.
The second-half continued in very much the same way, with Lee Seung-woo blazing over a glorious chance in the 52nd minute for Suwon, just before Osmar send a header inches wide of the post in what was Seoul’s first real chance of the game.
Suwon were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after Kim Shin-jin nearly gave a Suwon attacker whiplash as he pulled the collar of his shirt with so much force that it took him off his feet. Ex-Jeonbuk winger Lopes found the bottom corner to put the home side 1-0 up.
Ki Sung-yueng managed to level the scores from distance with a deflected strike finding its way past the keeper to make it 1-1 with ten minutes left to play. Lee Seung-woo missed another glorious chance to snatch the points for Suwon as he blazed a first-time effort over the bar from yards out, much to the relief of the Seoul backline.
The game ended 1-1 with Seoul lucky to come away without defeat in what was a highly disappointing performance from the visitors. Seoul will now have to avoid defeat against Jeonbuk next week if they are to have any hope of finishing the pre-split season in the top six.
Full time result: Suwon FC 1-1 FC Seoul
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BEHIND THE SCRIBBLE
Surrogate Suhoshin
Having arrived in 2016 from the U.K. I was desperate to find a local team to follow in Korea.
My first game at the World Cup Stadium was a 3-2 victory for FC Seoul over Gwangju in June of the same year.
Just like that, I was hooked.
Now, I go home and away. Week in, week out.
I hope you enjoy my ramblings on all things FC Seoul.
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