Today also gives me a chance to meet some people who might be interested in watching WK League football in the future. A few weeks before the match, an Instagram account that follows women’s sports in Korea tried to organise a meetup for people new to football. Unfortunately, the whole thing was rather badly organised. When I tried to join, the only response I received was of little help. Even after sending another message to say that I’d like to come along, I never received confirmation.
Attempts were made
I will later see the group at the match, taking selfies, and then bump into them again at the station after the match. As much as I’d like to support anyone trying to promote women’s sport in Korea, I simply don’t have time for this nonsense. I don’t think I’ll be following that account any further.
While I’m waiting, Incheon Man shows up and keeps me company for a few minutes before we give up and head towards the stadium. He’s more relaxed about where he sits today because his favourite player isn’t in the matchday squad. With the injury crisis from earlier in the season behind them, Seoul has the luxury of resting players who aren’t fully fit. What a life!
He sits next to me for the whole match, and we are able to chat much more than we usually do. As much as I like being alone, it’s also fun to have someone you can share game comments with.
Most of the familiar faces are at the match, and for once I have a good reason to overcome my shyness and approach the group of women sitting behind me. I’ve printed out a short note in both Korean and English, asking if one of them would be willing to answer some interview questions. I’m hoping to include the interview in the book I’m putting together about my experience watching football in Korea.
It’s already late in the season, and by the time the match gets underway, it’s almost dark. I grew up near the tropics, where sunrise and sunset times don’t change dramatically throughout the year. Even after all these years, the early sunsets during the colder months still catch me off guard.
The dropping temperatures also bring a change to the stadium scenery. Autumn colours are already starting to appear, and I’m a little disappointed that we won’t get to enjoy a match with the full autumn colours as a backdrop this year.
The Kim Min-ji show
On the pitch, Seoul makes a strong start and looks like a genuine threat. Kim Min-ji, who only returned from national team duty at the Asian Games in Japan a few days ago, is on fire. She dominates and directs the midfield, wins more than her fair share of 50/50 battles, and seems to be getting even more out of her passing game than usual. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Seoul players regularly receiving passes into space.
The only goal of the match comes, unsurprisingly, from a brilliant piece of play involving Kim Min-ji. She strips the ball from a Mungyeong player before sending it down the sideline to a waiting Han Chae-rin. Han then proceeds to baffle her defender with some fancy footwork before sending a cross towards goal.
The ball surprises everyone by floating past the waiting attackers and finding its way into the far top corner of the net. Nobody expected that!
With this victory, Seoul suddenly moves up to third in the league and has a very real chance of finishing in a championship playoff position.
When the final whistle blows, the players greet each other as usual. The Mungyeong players make their way over to the Seoul coach to greet and thank her before heading across to do the same with their own supporters. Meanwhile, the Seoul players hold their usual post-match meeting on the pitch before eventually making their way over to thank the home fans for coming.
I think I’ll be supporting this team again next year, but I’m certainly not going to wait around for this sort of thing ever again.
The final match of the season
Seoul and Hwacheon have already played their Round 28 match, which means Seoul’s Round 27 visit to Gyeongju will be their final game of the regular season. After spending much of the season languishing near the bottom of the table, Seoul somehow finds itself with a chance to qualify for the championship playoffs.
The permutations are relatively straightforward. If Seoul wins, Gyeongju can no longer catch them, even if they win their Round 28 match. Seoul’s chances also depend on the result between Mungyeong and Suwon. Mungyeong must lose; otherwise, they could still overtake Seoul in the final round.
As usual, all the weekday matches take place on the same day and at the same time. Suwon manages to score early, raising the hopes of Seoul supporters following the matches on live streams.
Unfortunately, Seoul isn’t playing well. In fact, they’re playing horribly.
I can’t decide whether they’re simply passing the ball around like amateurs or attempting to play Route One football without any idea how to do it. Time and again, they launch long passes that go straight to an opposition player. It’s painful to watch.
By the time the final whistle blows, the damage is done. Gyeongju wins 4-0.
So much for the championship playoffs.
Watching others fight it out
The following week, Round 28 brings the final matches of the regular season. Seoul is already out of contention, but both Mungyeong and Gyeongju are still in the running for the remaining playoff spot.
Mungyeong has the easier task. They simply need to beat a struggling Incheon side at home, and they do so comfortably, winning 4-1.
Gyeongju, on the other hand, has to travel to Suwon. Despite expectations, they return home with a 3-1 victory, securing a semi-final place ahead of Mungyeong by just a single point in the league table. Seoul finishes a respectable fifth, just one point behind Mungyeong.
I will watch the match between Hwacheon and Gyeongju with particular interest because it will determine whether I can attend the first leg of the Championship Final in person.
I’m not entirely sure who I want to win. A trip to Gyeongju would be nice, but getting there could be a stressful experience, assuming I can even arrive in time for kick-off. Hwacheon is considerably easier to reach, even if the journey still takes a while. At least I’m guaranteed to make it to the match, and I can even get home on the same day.
I suppose there’s nothing else to do but wait.
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