Football
Football
K League 1 Leader FC Seoul Stumbles Out of Korea Cup Against K League 2’s Best
K League 1 Leader FC Seoul Stumbles Out of Korea Cup Against K League 2’s Best
FC Seoul, currently at the top of K League 1, suffered a surprising exit from the Korea Cup, falling 2-0 to K League 2’s top team, Busan IPark, in a third-round match held at Busan Gudeok Stadium. This defeat marks a significant upset as one of the K League’s powerhouses was eliminated by a lower-division club on Wednesday, May 29th.
Busan IPark’s manager, Cho Sung-hwan, expressed gratitude to the fans who attended the match in the intense heat and praised his team’s defensive efforts, acknowledging areas for further development despite the two-goal victory. The win offered a measure of solace to Busan fans following a recent loss to Suwon Samsung Bluewings, securing IPark’s progression to the fourth round of the 2026-27 season Korea Cup.
Conversely, FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong voiced his disappointment, particularly regarding his players’ physical condition. He noted his frustration that professional athletes struggled to complete 70 or 90 minutes of play and experienced cramps, taking responsibility for what he perceived as a failure in managing his younger players.
The loss for FC Seoul, alongside another K League 1 strong contender, Ulsan, means both top-tier teams have been eliminated from the Korea Cup in the round of 16, a blow to their prestige. Kim Gi-dong vowed to move past this result and focus on a turnaround in upcoming matches.
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