Head coach Cha Du-ri defeated head coach Lee Eul-yong.
Cha Du-ri's Hwaseong FC won 1-0 against Gyeongnam FC on the 7th at the Changwon Football Center in the 15th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2025. The victory broke Hwaseong's four-game losing streak, bringing their record to 3 wins, 3 draws, and 9 losses, with 12 points, placing them 12th. Gyeongnam, with 5 wins, 2 draws, and 8 losses, holds 17 points and is in 9th place.
The coaching duel between Cha Du-ri and Lee Eul-yong attracted attention. The members of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinal fairy tale faced off as coaches.
Before the season, head coach Cha Du-ri declared, "I will lead Hwaseong to play exciting football with a desperate mindset and passion in every match. I want to play football that makes fans say, 'Let's go again next time.' I hope for lots of support. I want to hear that we play entertaining football."
Head coach Lee Eul-yong noted in his inauguration speech at Gyeongnam, "I will create an exciting football team. I emphasize a young and aggressive style of play, and I want fans to hear that Gyeongnam football has changed a lot."
As the season reaches its midpoint, both coaches find themselves in a struggling situation in the lower ranks. In particular, head coach Cha Du-ri went to the Gyeongnam away game under difficult circumstances following four consecutive losses.
In the 39th minute of the first half, Lim Chang-seok scored the winning goal. After a dribble, Ruan passed the ball back, and Lim Chang-seok finished it off to score the opener. In the 15th minute of the second half, Hwaseong earned a penalty kick. However, the referee canceled the penalty after determining an offside during a video review.
Gyeongnam scored a dramatic equalizer. In the 18th minute of the second half, during a counterattack, Park Min-seo from the left side curled a shot into the empty net with his right foot. It was reminiscent of Son Heung-min's curling shot.
However, the goal was subsequently ruled out due to a foul occurring when Gyeongnam had possession of the ball. Gyeongnam expressed their grievances, but they were not accepted. Ultimately, Hwaseong added another victory.
Lim Chang-seok, who scored his first professional goal as the winning goal, expressed his joy, saying, "The ball came to me after hitting the post. I momentarily saw the goalkeeper's legs apart. I aimed for that spot and shot, and it went in. I've been watching Ruan since last year, and we can read each other’s intentions with just a glance."
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