ⓚ③☆ John Duerden Column] New Breeze to Korean Soccer, the K3 League

[STAM]

John Duerden Column] New Breeze to Korean Soccer, the K3 League
[ 2007-07-02 ]

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With the Asian Cup approaching, most eyes will naturally be focused on the national team and its exploits in Indonesia in July. The Taeguk Warriors are at the top of the football pyramid, and while global and continental competitions are vital, it is lower down the structure where we can see the real strength of Korean football.

The K-League may be Asia’s oldest professional league – 24 and counting! But only recently has that league structure been expanded. It is early days but the signs are that the second tier N-League and K-3 League will remain not only as attractive competitions in their own right but as important foundations for a strong Korean football future.

As the K3 is new this season, it has been receiving a healthy amount of attention from the media. The ten amateur teams are still in the first stages of their virgin campaigns but have shown enough quality to suggest that league will become a vital part of Korea’s domestic football scene for many years to come.

Next year, we should see K3 teams taking on the big boys in the FA Cup but this year, that task was left to those 12 clubs in the N-League as well as a few university teams.

Unlike previous years, the first round was free of shocks but not scares. There were a good number of close calls and relieved K-league players that got back on their graffiti-covered buses back to their big-city pads.

Perhaps the absence of upsets was due to the fact that compared to past seasons; the K-League teams fielded relatively strong line-ups.

FC Seoul certainly did and stars such as Jung Jo-gook, Kim Byung-ji, Kim Eun-jung and Adi knew they had been in a tough game after a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout win at the home of Incheon Korail. The N-League team were on top for much of the game on a hot afternoon and it was only in the second half that the visitors from the capital started to trouble the hosts.

Unfortunately for the home fans, and most neutrals, an equaliser and a win on penalties followed for Seoul. It had been quite a battle however as the sincere way that the Seoul coach Senol Gunes congratulated the Korail players after the game demonstrated.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings’ international stars Kim Nam-il, Song Chong-guk and Baek Ji-hoon took an unusual trip to Seosan Omega, a football outpost in the far west of the country. Seosan are struggling at the bottom of the second tier but managed to take the lead against the in-form K-League team.
It wasn’t meant to be as Suwon’s class showed through in the end.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking story of the day came on the south coast as Busan Transportation, playing at the historic Gudeok Stadium, were cruelly defeated by 2005 K-League champions and 2006 Asian Champions League semi-finalists Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I.

In the last seconds, the Tigers were heading for a penalty shootout when the unfortunate hosts scored an own goal to send Ulsan into the next round.

A thriving cup competition is more than beneficial to the health of country’s domestic football scene. Apart from the thrilling knockout football, it gives people a sense that Korean football isn’t all about the K-League and it lifts the profile of teams lower down the pyramid.

The K3 is certainly lower down but it is full of vitality as the recent clash between Eunpyeong Hospital and Seoul United clearly demonstrated.

While the 2002 World Cup Stadia dotted around the peninsula are all fantastic arenas for football, there can’t be many more stunning locations than Eunpyoeng. The hospital team play their home games at the foot of the imposing Bukhansan mountain on the far north-western reaches of Seoul.

Seoul United were the visitors. United come from the south of the great metropolis, giving the media a perfect opportunity to bill the game as the first ever Seoul derby.

The club is the story of the K3 season so far. ‘The People’s Club’ is the club’s image and ‘fans come first’ is its motto. Both seemed to be true as the black and white shirt wearing United fans made up the majority of a very healthy 600 fans who spent an enjoyable day in the warm June sunshine.

The highlights of the game can be seen on this site and they are well worth watching – not least for two excellent Seoul goals as they strolled to a 5-1 victory. You can also see that there are few better ways to spend a free Saturday afternoon than finding a K3 or N-League team near you and going along there and lending them your support - (it is usually free) and you will be most welcome.

출처 : 축협홈페이지 K3뉴스
링크 : http://kfa.or.kr/news/news/sview.asp?g_conid=200772173852&g_gubun=8

K3♡

서울유나이티드 화이팅!!

[리버풀과부산]

땡큐

[『FC서울의 사자후』]

???

[서울에서]

아나 징글리시 절망 OTL

[4 : 44]

아놔

[[Busan]ll B Gunners]

Taeguk Warriors --> '태국 전사'로 순간 착각..

[영표형슛;ㅁ;]

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Shine_대전]

아하

[Shine_대전]

해석좀.......귀찮다;

[STAM]

마지막만 읽어도 무관

[GG...]

K-League and it lifts the profile of teams lower down the pyramid. 그렇군요 좋은 정보 감사합니다 해석안되는분들 너무 절망하지마세요 좋은말이니깐요^^

[A WALK IN THE PARK]

운동장에 직접가서 선수들에게 열심히 응원하라는거네요.

[Amor수원]

아이고야 해석하느냐고 힘들었네 ㅋ

[lordway]

꼭... 이래야만 했는지.... 혹시나해서 밑으로 쭉...... 역시나..... 한글을 사랑합시다....