Goals are like buses — you can wait for what feels like forever, then three show up at once. At least, that’s how it was at Sangam on Friday night, in what was a very evenly matched clash between Seoul and Sejong. Both teams played with determination, Seoul still seeking a first win and Sejong hoping to make it two away victories in a row after success at Gyeongju in Round 2.
Possession was almost equal throughout the game, with both teams getting a few shots in, but it was Seoul’s Kang Yumi who finally opened the scoring at 65′, evading Sejong’s defenders with a nifty one-two pass from Jo Yesong before slipping the ball past keeper Kim Yumi. Kang, along with Bin Hyunjin, entertained the crowds with a signature Seoul City goal celebration, and their team took advantage of the atmosphere, and a rattled Sejong team, to double their lead within minutes. Barely had play restarted when City’s defence won possession and fed the ball to Kim Youngeun, who had little trouble dribbling past Sejong’s Ji Sunmi and fed a pass to Han Chaerin, making a dash up the left wing. With the Sportstoto defence scrambling again, Han launched a cross into the box which sailed past diving keeper Kim Yumi, leaving captain Kang Taekyung to finish the job at close range, sending the ball between the legs of defender Seo Ari on the goal line and into the back of the net.
As City and their fans celebrated again, it would have been easy for the away side to put their heads down and give up, but to their great credit, they did the opposite. As viewers at home saw replays of the goal and reactions from fans in the stands, the broadcast abruptly cut back to live action: the ball was already in the back of the net again, only this time it was at the opposite end of the pitch. Receiving a long pass in the box surrounded by Seoul defenders, Shin Hyebin displayed impressive control to bring the ball down with a header before volleying it past Kim Jungmi to make the score 2-1. Fired up, Sportstoto created another opportunity immediately, but this time Kim managed to make the save. Both goalkeepers were kept alert in the closing minutes of the game, with tensions running high, but the home team managed to hold onto their lead until the end.
This was an important first win for Seoul, who suffered back-to-back losses in their opening matches, away at Suwon and Incheon. City showed that despite several changes to the squad, they are still the same team that stormed the league last year: well-organised, pacy, and ready to have some fun. They will hope to build on this win when they host Gangjin Swans at Sangam on Friday, before travelling to Mungyeong to face an on-form Sangmu side next week.
In case you missed it: Stadium guide: Auxiliary pitch, Seoul World Cup Stadium
As for Sejong, overall, this was not a bad performance, but there are clear lessons to be learned. Sportstoto seemed to lack cohesion in the defence, with mistakes and miscommunications leading to the first goal, and a total loss of concentration allowing the second to follow. Sejong’s most experienced and reliable goalkeeper Ryu Jisu is yet to make an appearance in the 2026 WK League, and her return from international duty in Brazil may help stabilise her side’s defence in the coming weeks. Sportstoto are back at home this Wednesday but they face tough opposition in the form of Suwon FC. Yoon Deokyeo’s side will need to step up their mental game and adjust to spending more time out of possession if they are to get a good result against the 2024 champions.
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