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Can cornered FC Seoul overcome perfect storm?

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FC Seoul head coach Choi Yong-soo, right, shakes hands with Ulsan Hyundai head coach Kim Do-hoon before the two teams' K League 1 match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Saturday. / Yonhap
FC Seoul head coach Choi Yong-soo, right, shakes hands with Ulsan Hyundai head coach Kim Do-hoon before the two teams' K League 1 match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Jhoo Dong-chan

It couldn't be worse. FC Seoul suffered another defeat during the K League 1 eighth round match against Ulsan Hyundai at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Saturday. It was also the home team's fifth consecutive loss.

It was the first time in 25 years for Seoul to suffer five defeats in a row.

The capital-based football team has fallen to 11th place in the 12-team league after the Saturday game. If Seoul finishes this season in its current place, it will have to face the relegation dogfight.

It was not a huge surprise Seoul would experience difficulties in playing against Ulsan's versatile squad. Ulsan didn't even play veteran midfielder duo Lee Chung-yong and Koh Myong-jin. Instead, 22-year-old Won Do-jae played as a midfielder on the day.

Seoul managed to withstand Ulsan's speedy offense for the first 60 minutes but, once again, failed to maintain its pace in the second half. The home team players' fatigue seemed evident after Seoul midfielder Ju Se-jong was sent off for a dodgy tackle on Won in the 61st minute.

Ball possession tipped sharply for Ulsan immediately after the send-off. Ulsan head coach Kim Do-hoon then subbed Norwegian striker Bjorn Johnson and former South Korean national Park Ju-ho.

In the 65th minute, Park tore down Seoul's right side and connected the ball inside the penalty box to assist Johnson's header.

The game became even more one-sided for Ulsan after Johnson's goal. Ulsan dominated the ball possession until the game ended. K League 1's leading goal scorer Junior Negrao added another goal in the stoppage time.

Remedy?

In a bid to overcome the team's grim situation, Seoul announced its decision to hire former Gangwon FC head coach Kim Ho-young as an assistant manager. Seoul fired assistant coach Kim Seong-jae earlier this month.

Seoul also admitted the team is in talk with Gyeongnam FC to sign Serbian striker Uros Deric. Gyeongnam FC is currently fifth in the 10-team K League 2.

Seoul manager Choi Yong-soo hinted earlier this month that he doesn't want to sign a loan contract extension with the team's ace striker Aleksandar Pesic. Pesic has played only one game on sub this season.


Jhoo Dong-chan jhoo@koreatimes.co.kr


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