Suwon: Suwon FC Women played in their own backyard just south of Seoul as they hosted North Korean club Naegohyang Women's FC at the top Asian women's club football tournament Wednesday night. However, Suwon head coach Park Kil-young wondered throughout the match if his team weren't the visiting side.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Naegohyang defeated Suwon FC Women 2-1 in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, some 30 kilometers south of Seoul. It was the first match between women's football clubs of the two Koreas to take place south of the border. The historic occasion generated huge interest from outside the football community. South Korean civic groups, with the financial aid of the government, formed cheering squads with hundreds of people waving flags bearing Naegohyang's logo. Multiple banners were put up welcoming the North Korean club south of the border.
Suwon FC Women supporters, while boisterous in their own right, were outnumbered in the stands. "We are Suwon FC Women of the Republic of Korea," Park said with an extra emphasis on the country's official name. Then pausing for a few moments to gather himself, Park continued, "Throughout the match, our players and our staff felt hurt."
Park also apologized to his team's supporters who braved rain for failing to reward them with a victory. The coach said the loss also represented a missed opportunity for women's football in South Korea in general, because a Suwon victory would have created interest in the sport for reasons other than politics and matters related to inter-Korean relations.
"We've never played in front of so many people and so many writers before, and we were all excited," Park said. "We needed to win today to draw more attention to women's football here. And our players competed so hard with that in mind. Hopefully, this match will help people take more interest in our sport and make them come to more matches."
Suwon FC Women had a 10-1 advantage in shot attempts in the first half but went goalless while hitting the goal post twice. "Our players were determined to outwork the opponents but it's a shame we didn't capitalize on our chances," the coach said. "I'm still proud of them."
Suwon FC Women missed a chance to pull even when captain Ji So-yun missed a penalty in the 79th minute. The normally sure-footed veteran sent the spot kick wide left when goalkeeper Pak Ju-gyong dove to Ji's right. Park held himself accountable for the missed opportunity. "I am the one who told Ji So-yun to take the kick, so the buck stops with me," the coach said. "I told her not to worry about it and not to hang her head, because I asked her to take it and I will be responsible for everything."