Kim Seung-gyu,’Spider Hand’ shining alone in the’Yokohama tragedy’

Kim Seung-gyu (left) blocks a Japanese shot. [사진 대한축구협회]

Goalkeeper Seung-gyu Kim (Kashiwa Reisol) shined even in the midst of the’Yokohama tragedy’.

The Korean soccer team, led by coach Paulo Bento, lost 0-3 after a hard fight in the A-match evaluation match against Japan held at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on the 25th. While Japan made 10 shots, Korea only scored one.

The offense was lethargic, and the defensive line was unstable. But it was as solid as the goal. It is thanks to Kim Seung-gyu, who was replaced with Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan Hyundai) at the start of the second half, which was behind 0-2.

Kim Seung-gyu showed off super saves several times and prevented Japan’s “shower shooting”. In the 8th minute of the second half, the ball, which was slightly straightened by the Korean defense, was connected by Esaka Ataru’s shot from the penalty box. Kim Seung-gyu flew away and stopped it.

In the 15th minute of the second half, Hidemasa Morita blew up a cold mid-range shot in a no-mark situation. It was an animal-like reflex. In the 35th minute of the second half, Asano Takuma and Takuma were faced with a one-on-one situation, but this time they also blocked.

They allowed a goal in the 37th minute of the second half. In Japan’s left-hand corner, he allowed Wataru Endo to score a header, but it is an analysis that Korea would have been defeated by 4-5 points without Kim Seung-gyu’s advance march.

Commentator Han Joon-hee said, “I hit a slow long pass at the Korean attacking team with a low airpower. I had to make it from midfield, but it was pushed back from midfield. Initially, the selection of players such as Hong Chul was strange, and he was obsessed with Qatar League players (Al Sadd Nam Tae-hee and Jung Woo-young). Not enough was taken as a defensive midfielder, and there seemed to be no squad leader. If it wasn’t for goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu (Kashiwa), it was a jolt that could have scored 5 or 6 runs.”
Reporter Pee Ju-young [email protected]