“There are only a few matches left to play with my brother (Park) Joo-ho. I want to have more fun during the time I have left.”
These were Lee Seung-woo’s words to Park Joo-ho, who announced his retirement.
Suwon FC lost 0-2 to Suwon FC in the 15th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 at 6 p.m. on the 28th at Suwon Sports Complex. With the loss, Gwangju is in eighth place with five wins, three draws and seven losses (18 points), while Suwon is in 10th place with four wins, three draws and eight losses (15 points) and has lost four straight matches.
Suwon had lost three straight games prior to this match. Suwon was in desperate need of a turnaround after their win over Gangwon on May 6. They came into the game against Gwangju desperate for a win, but they started to fall behind early on. Gwangju continued to harass the Suwon defense, led by Lee Hee-gyun and Thomas up front, while Jung Ho-yeon and Lee Sun-min in the center completely dominated the Suwon midfield.
Gwangju finally got on the board. In the 32nd minute of the second half, Gwangju won a corner kick and Timo finished off a loose ball with a header. Gwangju doubled their lead shortly thereafter. In the 39th minute, Asani’s direct shot after a breakthrough deflected off the defense and into the back of the net. The game ended with a 2-0 Gwangju victory and Suwon’s fourth straight loss.
Lee Seung-woo came on for Jang Jae-woong in the 15th minute of the first half. He had scored his first goal of the season in the previous match against Jeonbuk Hyundai, so he was looking to score in back-to-back games. Lee formed a frontline trio with Ras and Murillo, and the two of them pounded away at Gwangju’s goal.
However, Gwangju’s goal was hard to come by, and Suwon didn’t have many offensive chances. Suwon completely gave up the center of the field to Gwangju, and the details of their offense were hard to come by. In the end, Lee Seung-woo could only watch helplessly as the score was 0-2.
Suwon recently had another reason to rebound. Veteran Park Joo-ho, the team’s moral support, announced his retirement. Park has played 73 league games for Suwon since the 2021 season, starting every game until today’s match against Gwangju, making him a veteran. However, on March 3, Park decided to hang up his soccer boots after this season, and Suwon announced that his retirement ceremony will be held on April 6 at Ulsan Hyundai Stadium.
Lee and Park have a close relationship. Park Joo-ho is the senior and older brother who gives sincere advice, while Lee Seung-woo is the junior and younger brother who is closer than anyone else. In particular, they often refer to each other in public. At the Jeju Winter Training Media Camp in February, Park Joo-ho gave Lee Seung-woo some heartfelt advice about Lee’s European transfer rumors, saying, “Summer is the best time to transfer than winter” and “The most important thing in Europe is mental strength”.
Lee also had some witty words for Park Joo-ho. “My brother (Park) hasn’t scored a goal in the K League yet. I hope he scores a goal this season so we can do a dance routine together,” showing their close relationship.
However, Park Joo-ho is now leaving Suwon. Lee Seung-woo also shared his mixed feelings. “The absence of Park Joo-ho is obvious on the field and will be felt greatly off the field, and the difference between having him and not having him will be huge in the locker room,” Lee said.
“Also, as the coach said, he plays more than the younger players and works harder than anyone else. With the team in a relegation battle, he is a more important resource than me or Ras. That’s why he’s leaving,” he said, expressing his regret.
And Lee had one last wish for the departing Park Joo-ho. There are still two matches left, including Park’s retirement match. “I want to have more fun with my brother Joo-ho because the match is coming up, but I’m angry with myself because it doesn’t seem to be going well. I think I need to prepare a little better,” he said, expressing his desire to enjoy the rest of the match with Park Joo-ho.메이저사이트
Finally, Lee wished Park all the best for the future. “It’s his choice, so I respect it. He has another life ahead of him, so I respect his choice so much, and I will support him in his second life.” The two-year chemistry between Park Joo-ho and Lee Seung-woo is now a thing of the past. Suwon fans are looking forward to seeing their fantastic chemistry once again, along with the team’s escape from the slump.