26.18 Surely this time

Gangjin Come to Seoul

Gangjin Swans arrive in Seoul in poor form. They have picked up just four points from their last ten matches, making this one of Seoul's better chances to collect three points.

That is easier said than done. Seoul are still dealing with a growing injury list, made even worse by one player serving a suspension. Even the reserve goalkeeper remains unavailable, although I still do not know exactly what her injury is. Some players are even playing through injuries that would normally keep them off the field. Number 23, for example, is reported to be carrying some kind of pelvic injury.

The summer heat is not helping either. Every match seems to demand a little more from already exhausted players. We are only just past the halfway point of the season, and I find myself wondering how Seoul will keep putting full teams on the pitch until the final round.

At least it probably will not become as desperate as the old fourth-tier men's side, Seoul Martyrs, who once arrived at a match with only eight players and lost 25–0.

Dinner at Mangwon Market

One of the nice things about the summer schedule is the late kick-off. Instead of rushing straight to the stadium, there is time to enjoy nearby attractions. Today that means Mangwon Market.

Although it is a popular destination, it feels more like a local attraction than a place filled with international tourists. Like many popular traditional markets, food is the main attraction. We wander past stalls selling fried chicken, sausages and all kinds of snacks before settling on a restaurant famous for its wide selection of makgeolli.

It is essentially a bunsik restaurant for adults. The menu includes quick noodle dishes, stuffed peppers and tteokbokki, all served alongside one of Korea's best traditional drinks.

We order shrimp jeon and stuffed chillies, along with the house speciality, a drink they call Cream Makgeolli. It is smooth and easy to drink, making it perfect for someone trying makgeolli for the first time. For me, though, it tastes a little watered down. Premium brands like Haechang are just as creamy while keeping a much richer flavour, although they also come with a much higher price tag.

Shirt Collectors

After dinner we make the short trip to the stadium. Plenty of supporters are already in the stands, and one thing immediately catches my attention. The Gangjin supporters occupy almost as much of the stand as the Seoul supporters.

Part of that is probably because this side of the stadium is where most people enter, and curious spectators normally end up there. Still, there seem to be far more Gangjin fans than I expected. There are almost as many here as I saw when I visited Gangjin itself. Surely they have not travelled all this way together?

The group of young women usually seated near me is missing today, but two new faces quickly grab my attention.

One supporter is sitting on the far side of the stand with two Number 18 shirts hanging over the railing. Another man is sitting much closer to us with an incredible collection of shirts. He has around eight in total, all belonging to the same player, number 18 Kim Yeong-Mi, all shorts from her time at Incheon and the national team, all fully or partially signed. Most interestingly, there is a Seoul City Hall shirt.

I might not be the most outgoing person, but when there is something worth gaining, I have no problem introducing myself. I head over and ask where he managed to buy the Seoul shirt.

He tells me he bought it directly through the club's kit supplier, Hummel.

Our friend from Incheon notices the conversation and joins us. Since he speaks Korean, he is able to ask far more detailed questions than I can. By the end of the conversation, we have learned that there is a genuine chance of ordering our own customised Seoul City Hall shirts before the season finishes.

Even better, Seoul keeps the same shirt design from year to year, so anything we buy now should still match the team's kit next season.

This alone almost makes today's match worthwhile.

A Scrappy Match

The football itself never quite reaches the same standard.

Both teams look evenly matched during the opening half, although Seoul appears slightly stronger. Possession changes hands regularly, but neither side can string together enough accurate passes to build sustained attacks. Every promising move seems to break down because passes are just a little off target.

It feels like this match will be decided by whichever team can put together two or three good passes at the right moment.

Gangjin strikes first. A well-weighted through ball splits the defence before being calmly finished between the goalkeeper and the near post. It is an excellent goal, and I suspect I am not the only Seoul supporter wondering if another frustrating evening is about to unfold.

Fortunately, Seoul responds before the break.

Number two, Bin Hye-Jin, delivers an excellent ball into the penalty area. The scramble that follows is chaotic, but Han Chae-rin emerges out of the mess and finds herself with an empty goal to aim at. She simply taps the ball home to level the score. It is one of several dangerous deliveries from Bin Hye-Jin during the evening.

Seoul Finish Strong

The second half continues much like the first. Both teams work hard, but accurate passing remains elusive. Chances are few and the game drifts towards what looks like a draw.

Then, around the 80th minute, a corner changes everything.

The ball glances off a Seoul player's head before striking the hanging hand of a Gangjin defender. It is an unfortunate incident more than a careless one, but the referee has little choice but to award a penalty.

Seoul converts the spot kick to take the lead.

Deep into stoppage time comes the final moment of the evening. Number 15, Gang Yu-Mi, tries to lob the ball over the goalkeeper from outside the box, only to see her effort bounce against the crossbar. Luckily for Seoul, the rebound falls perfectly for Jo Yae-Son, who calmly finishes into the open net to seal a 3–1 victory. Great work by the two substitutes.

More Than Three Points

The result is exactly what Seoul needs, but the football itself is only average. Both teams struggle to find any rhythm, and neither ever looks particularly convincing.

When I think back on the day, though, the match is not what stands out most.

Instead, I keep thinking about that conversation in the stands and the possibility that, before the season ends, I might finally have my own customised Seoul City Hall shirt.