2024-05-11 03:49:22
Incheon Hyundai Steel, a powerhouse in the women’s professional soccer WK League, finished second in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Club Championship.
Hyundai Steel lost 1-2 to Urawa Reds Ladies in the 2023 AFC Women’s Club Championship final held at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Saitama Prefecture, Japan on the 10th.
As a result, Hyundai Steel, which reached the finals of the competition for the first time in the club’s history, lost its first win. Hyundai Steel is a strong team that has won 11 consecutive wins in the WK League, and is leading again this year.
The AFC Women’s Club Championship is a competition to test marketability and management methods ahead of the Women’s Asian Champions League (WACL), which will officially launch from the 2024-25 season.
Eight teams that won major Asian leagues, including Hyundai Steel and Urawa, were divided into two groups of four teams and played in the group stage last year. Hyundai Steel, in Group B, advanced to the finals by beating Sydney FC (Australia) 3-0, Bam Khatoon FC (Iran) 2-1, and FC Nasaf (Uzbekistan) 2-0.
Hyundai Steel’s key players, including Lee Min-ah and Lim Seon-ju, were unable to play on this day due to injuries, but they took the lead thanks to a surprise mid-range goal by Lee So-hee in the 13th minute of the first half.
But Hyundai Steel’s joy did not last long. In the 22nd minute of the first half, the defense collapsed for a moment, allowing Seike Kiko to score the tying goal. Four minutes later, they gave up a comeback goal to Miki Ito from a corner kick.
Afterwards, Hyundai Steel blocked Urawa’s attack and attempted to tie the score through a counterattack, but lost by one goal due to poor accuracy of the last pass and cross.
After the game, Hyundai Steel coach Kim Eun-sook said, “We came to Japan with the goal of winning, but it’s disappointing that we only finished runner-up,” adding, “We didn’t show our 100% strength.” “I want to invite Urawa and compete as an elite member,” he said.
Captain Kim Hye-ri said, “I am heartbroken because I always won on the domestic stage but ended up as runner-up. However, Urawa is a team that fully deserves to win,” he said. “I experienced soccer that I could not experience in Korea, and learned a lot. As I am very disappointed, I will work harder to win the championship next time.”
He continued, “A lot of Urawa spectators came to the stadium, but I don’t even know if there is a game in Korea. “I am thankful that only a small number of fans would have cheered,” he said, expressing disappointment at the insufficient administrative power of the club and the Women’s Football Federation ahead of this final.
The Hyundai Steel team announced its schedule on social media on the 9th, a day before the final, and the Women’s Football League announced its schedule through a banner on its website on the 10th, the same day. Because of this, most Hyundai Steel fans were not even aware that the finals were taking place. On the other hand, more than 5,200 Urawa fans visited the stadium on this day and showed one-sided support for the home team.
(Seoul = News 1)
-
- great
- 0dog
-
- I’m so sad
- 0dog
-
- I’m angry
- 0dog
-
- I recommend it
- dog
Hot news now
2024-05-11 03:49:22