Suwon FC’s Lee Seung-woo reacts after receiving a red card for accumulating cautions against Busan I-Park in the first leg of the K League promotion playoffs at Busan Asiad Stadium on June 6.
Suwon FC’s Lee Seung-woo (right) trips up Lee Seung-ki during the first leg of the K League Baseball promotion playoff match against Busan I-Park at Asiad Stadium in Busan on Monday.
A ‘relegation to the second division’ cloud hangs over professional soccer’s Suwon FC.
The team suffered a bitter upset in the first leg of the promotion playoffs (PO1).
The red card given to Suwon FC’s key player Lee Seung-woo (25) was even more disappointing.
Not only did it cost them the game, but it also caused a ripple effect that lasted until the second leg, when Lee was suspended.
Suwon FC, who dropped to 11th place in the K League 1 and into the relegation PO, lost 1-2 to Busan I-Park in the first leg of the PO at Busan Asiad Stadium on April 6.
Jang Jae-woong’s goal in the 42nd minute broke the deadlock, but conceded back-to-back penalty kicks (PKs) in the second half.
The pressure is on them to win the second leg at Suwon Sports Complex at 2 p.m. on Sept. 9 to stay in the competition.
On the other hand, K League 2 runners-up Busan will only need a draw to be promoted.
In the crucial first leg, it was the ‘Lee Seung-woo variable’ that pushed Suwon FC to the brink.
Lee came on as a substitute at the start of the second half with Suwon FC leading 1-0, but he was sent off after accumulating two yellow cards in the second half.
The second yellow card in the 37th minute proved to be the final straw.
After tripping Lee Seung-woo while defending inside the penalty box, he was sent off for a second caution after video assistant referee (VAR) review, and Busan was awarded a PK. 안전토토사이트
Suwon FC then conceded the equalizer after Lee’s sending-off, and eventually conceded another PK in the eighth minute of stoppage time to suffer a bitter defeat.
Lee’s sending off was particularly disappointing as it came on the heels of an unnecessary red card he received earlier in the match.
Lee was cautioned once for “unsportsmanlike conduct” seven minutes before his second caution.
It was the result of a nervous tussle with Choi Joon after the ball went out of play on the sideline.
Unlike Choi Joon, who laughed it off, Lee Seung-woo held onto Choi Joon’s jersey for a long time, stretching it out, and was eventually cautioned.
The yellow card eventually led to Lee being sent off for accumulating cautions.
Suwon FC’s Lee Seung-woo, right, breaks through on a dribble against Busan I-Park in the first leg of their K League promotion playoff match at Asiad Stadium in Busan on June 6.
Courtesy of the Korean Football Association
Worse, Lee won’t be able to play in the second leg due to a suspension for his ejection in the first leg.
Lee is a key attacker who has 10 goals and three assists in the regular season, tied for the team’s most goals and second in offensive points.
For Suwon FC, who are already at a disadvantage after losing foreign striker Ras to a DUI, Lee’s suspension is a huge blow as they need to score goals and win the second leg.
Suwon FC head coach Kim Do-gyun is also troubled by the unexpected change.
