Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo recognized the potential of Vissel Kobe (Japan), who gave the first Asian loss.
Gwangju lost 0-2 in the away game of the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage of 2024-25 against Kobe at Noevia Stadium in Kobe, Japan on the 5th.
Gwangju suffered its first defeat in the tournament after defeating Yokohama F. Marinos, Kawasaki Frontale, and Johor Darul Takjim, the strongest team in Malaysia. The team also lost its No. 1 position in East Asia to Kobe, who had no loss in four ACLE matches (three wins and one draw).
Coach Lee Jung-hyo said after the match, “I think the players did their best in the stadium. As a coach, I had to find another tactical method considering the physical factors of the players, but I think it was a loss because I failed to give them a good way. I think the players did their best despite their physical problems. I want to thank the fans who came all the way to Japan even though the away game was not easy.”
Gwangju only hit one shot for the entire 90 minutes. Kobe, on the other hand, fired 20 shots. He also had four big chances. If it wasn’t for goalkeeper Kim Kyung-min’s good defense, additional runs would have been inevitable. Gwangju had difficulty in relieving Kobe’s pressure.
Coach Lee Jung-hyo, who looked back at the match against Kobe, said, “I clearly felt why Kobe is the No. 1 J-League team. I think it is a very good team. However, I don’t think playing against the No. 1 J-League team helps players grow up not to encounter them,” adding, “Honestly, if we play 10 times, we will lose all 10 times.” However, even if we lose a match, we should gain something. Through today’s match, the players must have felt a lot. In the match against Jeju Island, players including myself will prepare a lot, both technically and physically. I think the players did a great job.” 메이저놀이터
Gwangju did not include tall strikers such as Lee Kun-hee and Heo Yul in the top 11. Choi Kyung-rok and Becca took the lead. Manager Lee Jung-hyo said, “Since Kobe was a physically strong team, I thought that if we physically bumped into each other, we wouldn’t go our way, so I tried to lead the ball with zero-top. I think this was the wrong choice because it didn’t lead to a result. Although we lost the game, we must have felt that our players had to work harder in growing up than they do now, and I think that’s why we gained something like this.”