The 2019 season final final is today 8 months after the kickoff match. A few other stats about Thursday: Incheon kept their unbeaten season record but that was their first goalless game of the entire year! Suwon were also undefeated at home all year. Incheon are now missing 2 or 3 players - will they win title no.7, or can Suwon cause an incredible upset? THIS ENDS HERE Incheon Red Angels v Suwon WFC Final, 2nd leg Live, Monday 11 Nov (10:00 GMT / 19:00 KST) Final table, 2019 1 Incheon 76pts, 2 Gyeongju KHNP (+27GD) 49pts (lost PO), 3 Suwon WFC (+10GD) 49pts (won PO), 4 Hwacheon KSPO 44pts, 5 Gumi 36pts, 6 Boeun Sangmu 30pts, 7 Seoul WFC 15pts, 8 Changnyeong WFC 9pts
She's back! Brazil played China 24 hours ago, but this time Beatriz wasn't in the team (and they lost). Can she score for Incheon in this final?
7?! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ All credit to Suwon - they pushed this Incheon team closer than anyone has in 2019. The analysis can come later, but .... Oh, they made their "Champions" T-shirts before the game, didn't they? Highlights & Trophy: Incheon 1 - 0 Suwon (1-0 agg.) 인천현대제철 vs 수원 도시공사 - (Goal: Thais 71') www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz9dwQEtfzM&t=2h31m19s
No rest for them... Korea is hosting this tournament starting tomorrow (Tuesday 26 Nov), with Incheon in action in the late game. AFC WOMEN'S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2019 https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/afc-womens-club-championship-2019.2107361/ WK-League 2020 will have a team in Sejong instead of Gumi: So, "the back-up capital" city finally has a WK-team... But that's the 4th location for the Sportstoto-owned club since it began in 2011. They also left Jecheon and Daejeon. Maybe some consistency would help the team?
Today, for the first time, the AFC Women's Club Championship - it's kicking off with game 1, Beleza v Jiangsu, and soon game 2. Can champions Incheon beat Australia's finest?/third-finest? Match preview on the-AFC.com: Melbourne Victory v Incheon Red Angels Live, Tuesday 26 Nov (10.00 GMT / 19.00 KST) (Korea: SpoTV+, Naver and Daum tv)
AFC championship, their 1st game: '이세은 2골' 인천 현대제철, 호주 멜버른 4-0 완파 www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mcFmqzSm88 Highlights: Melbourne Victory 0 - 4 Incheon Red Angels - (Kim Dam-bi 24', Thaís 33', Lee Se-eun 57', 58') www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qAGxTT-KXw Lee Se-eun at the double, and Incheon lead the round-robin tournament with 3pts, as Beleza (JPN) and Jiangsu (CHN) drew their opener 1-1.
AFC championship game 2, a tight match but Incheon's first defeat for a year: Incheon 0 - 2 NTV Beleza - (Ueki 49', Kobayashi 90') Highlights - Youtube / Full match And Beleza won the Asian clubs' title with 7pts, ahead of Jiangsu (5pts), the Chinese champions. With the phenomenon of Chawinga in attack, they handed the Red Angels a loss in game 3: Jiangsu Suning 2 - 0 Incheon - (Tabitha Chawinga 10', 50') Highlights - Youtube / Full match Korea star Lee Min-a will be looking for a new club - dunno if it'll be in the Korean league though, after she left Incheon for Japan in 2017: [WK리그] 인천 이민아 (Lee Min-A) 하이라이트 (2016) www.youtube.com/watch?v=esf0ntycEPg
Season 2020 This might change the dynamic for Incheon - their impressive striker of the past 7 seasons has left Korea, and she's back in Brazil now. Bon voyage to Bia, Beatriz Zaneratto João - after 103 games, 78 goals and 41 assists ! (photo by Anders Henrikson, cc-by) Bia took a complicated route to get home. She announced she was leaving Incheon on Jan 3, and thereafter signed for Chinese club Wuhan Xinjiyuan. But with the coronavirus outbreak in that city, she instead signed on loan at the Brazilian club Palmeiras on Feb 14. Her friend from Brazil, Thais, remains at Incheon. Korean international defensive midfielder Jang Sel-gi has also left the club, heading to Madrid CFF. So, who can fill the gaps? Lee Min-a is back at Incheon! The midfielder and 2017 league MVP has signed up for 2020, after a torrid time at Kobe in Japan due to a hamstring injury. There's a news article on http://sports.hankooki.com/lpage/soccer/201912/sp2019123006012798040.htm (Archive), but presumably the whole thing is better explained in this video on Lee's own Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TERdLTx28YQ and Spain's Tallest Striker Eli del Estal Mateu has signed for the WK-champions, from Espanyol. Her former club is having a terrible season (likely to be relegated with no wins) and she got only 1 goal in 18 games, after she had scored 10 in 2018/19. According to reports, Del Estal is Spain's tallest female player at 1.75m, although France's Wendie Renard is taller by 12cm.
More Off-Season News: The wandering club Sports Toto is setting up in a new home city, Sejong. They're waiting for a new stadium to be ready in 2021 in the "Jochiwon Citizens' Playground". But in 2020 they'll play at Sejong Central Park, which has self-driving cars and is described as "sluggish", so it's gonna be fun times in Sejong. Er... ??? The Korean blog AAWF (All About Women Football) has a handy guide to all the previous places where the club have lost their keys. aawf.co.kr/asboard/asboard_view.php?buid=krnews&no_seq=356 (AAWF.co.kr / Editor Z)
The K-League is back, but the WK-League waits... Coronavirus has affected everything in 2020, and football is no different. We're currently looking at a June start for the women's league, with a 21-round season instead of 28. Sadly, a long-serving coach died aged 66 – Son Jong-seok, the manager of the Chungbuk/Daejeon/Gumi Sportstoto team since 2011, had a heart attack. He was a former player at Seoul City Hall and Ulsan in the 1980s. www.sportsw.kr/news/newsview.php?ncode=1065568319296885 (Archive)
Shinsegae corporation will sponsor KFA women's football for 5 years - but it's the Korean FA that needs to take the initiative. Internationally, the sport is now tougher than ever, and surprisingly Korea is declining in registered female player numbers, reports KoreaES.com: [한국 여자스포츠를 주목하자] / English autotranslation www.koreaes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=358464 "The women's soccer department of Yeoju University, Yeongjin College, and Hanyang Women's University, the foundation of fostering pro players, announced their dissolution over the past four years. Three teams disappeared, including the prestigious Women's Soccer Icheon Bridge. This was due to the lack of investment and support, making it difficult to operate. ⬤ What are the players up to? Hwacheon KSPO's new player Yujin Jin, and Suwon's Yeo Min-ji, talked about what they're doing in football's enforced hiatus: www.sportalkorea.com/news/view.php?gisa_uniq=2020050111260096 (Archive) Before the season delay, the Suwon team were training on JEJU ISLAND ⬤ Sportstoto striker Choi Yu-ri is looking forward to playing in the team's new home of Sejong, but the fans may not be let in to watch, if there are still virus worries. Choi was also one of the faces of the new Korea team kit. m.sportsworldi.com/view/20200412506372, Autotranslated ⬤ Transfers: more from the two finalists of 2019 Suwon's playoff goalscorer Mayu Ikejiri (JPN) moves to Vegalta Sendai Incheon sign striker Dioneide Neném (BRZ), formerly of Logroño in Spain And the winning goalscorer in the 2019 championship game, Thaís Duarte Guedes, is leaving Incheon after 7 seasons. In Brazil she's known as Thaisinha, and she signed in her home country with Santos. So, the Korean champions will have a very different attacking lineup when football returns... (Antonio Cruz/ABr, cc-by-sa)
Back soon! For the 2020 season WK리그, 6월 15일 개막 확정…21라운드로 축소 운영 WK League confirmed to open on June 15th…Reduced to 21 rounds - www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200514100800007, Autotranslated ⬤ Teams will play each other 3 times this year, instead of 4. If we make it to November, the PO and the championship final will run as usual. ⬤ "The matches will be held every Monday as in the previous year, with additional weekday games scheduled for Thursday depending on the circumstances."
Kickoff is today at the Football + Rugby Stadium, and also a welcome return for the awesome Google-Translated headlines OK, this year I'll try to learn the real thing kickoff = 킥오프 = "kig-opeu" ...(right?) Today's matches - the WK season premiere has a replay of the final, with Incheon v Suwon. A new-look Incheon, but defensive mid Jang Sel-gi has returned there from Spain, where the season was cut short. The other live game is the 'new' Sejong Sportstoto team away. This year the league has 4 female managers. Some good previews by Korean site GGfocus, Incheon-Suwon / Hwacheon-Seoul / Gyeongju-Sejong / Boeun-Changnyeong. Week 1 live Monday 15 Jun - KO 10:00 GMT, 19:00 KST Incheon Red Angels v Suwon WFC 인천현대제철 vs 수원도시공사 - 2020.6.15 www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZVBZop6ikM Gyeongju KHNP v Sejong Sportstoto 경주한수원 vs 세종스포츠토토 - 2020.6.15 www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjfCLOqzRqk
(Hi, @el-capitano - could you please move Bluewings's post ^ to K-League 1?) ⬤ Matchdays 1-3 in WK League 2020 have seen an improvement for the bottom team of last season - Changnyeong won their first 2 games. Fellow strugglers Seoul looked decent in a 2-1 home loss to Incheon, the champions a bit rusty. Sejong got their first win, at Suwon - looking at the schedule, the relocated club still isn't playing any home games. Suwon 0 - 1 Sejong Sportstoto Choi Yu-ri 28' youtube.com/watch?v=zKAchQu0uec By week 3, the strikeforces were up to speed - Suwon won with Moon Mi-ra's late winning header, 3-2 v Boeun Sangmu. At Seoul it was 3-3 v Changnyeong, while Hwacheon and Gyeongju also drew (1-1). Incheon's signings were in form in a 5-0 win over Sejong. Week 3 goals / WK리그 3R l 골모음 - 2020.6.25 youtube.com/watch?v=_PiBFl-2Ui4
⬤ Weeks 4-5: A very interesting start to this delayed season, with a couple of new or improving teams. It could be 6 clubs fighting for playoff places. Suwon had lost twice but went into 3rd place with three wins in a row, after a 2-0 at Hwacheon and 2-1 v Seoul with Yeo Min-ji's winning header. youtube.com/watch?v=d1oLaXN8oIw&t=7m44s Gyeongju (2nd) were held to another draw, 0-0 at Changnyeong, who should be good enough to avoid the 'wooden spoon' for this season - but both teams have tough matches today. In the home 'debut' of Sejong Sportstoto (5th), they got a 1-1 result with an equalizer by Kim Sang-eun, to stop Hwacheon (6th) from overtaking them. The table is nicely set up for tonight's match at Gyeongju, 2nd v 1st. Incheon's new lineup has had familiar results and may get even stronger when it can add Lee Min-a (injured) and Jang Sel-gi (unable to register until July). Striker Eli del Estal has 4 goals since her Incheon debut, and looks like an excellent target-woman, as Bia was, but less effective as a support striker. Neném has been very impressive on the right wing, an attacking threat nearly every time and makes it look effortless, including a nice goal v Boeun in week 5. And attacking midfielder Lee So-dam has been outstanding in a playmaker role. Week 6: All the Monday night games are live (09:00 GMT / 18:00 KST) Suwon WFC v Changnyeong WFC youtube.com/watch?v=sPL5LAPX1EY Also Seoul v Sejong and Hwacheon v Boeun, and the top 2 clash still to come...
⬤ Weeks 6-7: This season reaches its second stage, as we're now 1/3rd of the way to the playoffs. Seoul (7th) have struggled again this year but they have their first win, an away 1-0 with Choi Eun-ji's goal at Boeun Sangmu (8th). At the top, there'll be no 100% season for Incheon. They could only draw 0-0 at Gyeongju KHNP. On Thursday it got worse for Incheon when they fell behind at home to Hwacheon (6th), goal by Lee Sae-um, but the champs' starting XI was quite under-strength, and Incheon rallied after half-time with subs Neném and Lee So-dam. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmD7brbVKjM A hat-trick there for Jang Sel-gi, who played the full match for Incheon - but new face Eli del Estal may be out of favour with the coach, being substituted out of 2 games and not used at all against Hwacheon. A very good week for Gyeongju (2nd), they held Incheon 0-0, and defeated rivals Suwon (3rd). A late header by defender Lee Eun-ji won it for Gyeongju: youtube.com/watch?v=WHlqh4qinQ8&t=1h59m10s Sejong Sportstoto (4th) are thriving despite playing nearly every game away from their new home, with a 4-2 win at Seoul and a 2-2 draw at Changnyeong. Sejong will host a game today (Monday) in week 8, as they welcome the undefeated Gyeongju. The big game of the day is Suwon v Incheon, last year's finalists. Incheon won their week 1 contest 1-0.
WK League 2020 after matchday 7 Incheon Red Angels 19pts, Gyeongju KHNP 15, Suwon WFC 12, Sejong Sportstoto 11, Changnyeong WFC 9, Hwacheon KSPO 8, Seoul 4, Boeun 0 Just a point about jerseys - Gyeongju undoubtedly have some of the sharpest kits in the league this year, home and away but on a serious note -- what will they do if they play against a team in green and pink stripes? Eh? Eh? Now...... football, week 8: Suwon WFC v Incheon Red Angels - (09:00 GMT, 18:00 KST) www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CfubPePITs Another week 8 game is also live, Seoul v Hwacheon.
One more live match in week 8 was Sejong Sportstoto (4th) v Gyeongju (2nd) - quite comfortable win for the visitors, but they missed Asuna Tanaka's reassuring presence as DM and allowed a few chances through the middle before Sejong's consolation goal by Kim Sang-eun. Both Ivorian players scored for Gyeongju, Josee Nahi and Ines Nrehy. Goals: Sejong 1 - 3 Gyeongju, week 8 youtube.com/watch?v=fZbzfgo9a-A&t=3m15s
Week's 9's live matches today include the top 2 in games they should win easily, Incheon (1st) v Seoul (7th) and in the southeast it's Gyeongju (2nd) v Boeun (8th) after the army club got their first point last week. A more challenging prospect is 4th v 3rd, at Sejong - they had a good start, but can they hang with the established clubs? One point separates them currently. Sejong Sportstoto v Suwon WFC - (09:00 GMT, 18:00 KST) www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rki14Ga5axc
Update: It's rainy as hell 2-0 to Boeun after 15 minutes! Both goals by Kwon Ha-neul www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sa7MMg23bE
Gyeongju recovered with a great goal by Tanaka, but Kwon made it a hat-trick, and Boeun ran away with the points! What a result for them, and it throws open the playoff race. www.youtube.com/watch?v=z574Y5OLf9k Gyeongju stay 2nd, but now 7 points behind the leaders. With the awful weather in the south caused by monsoon season, it's not unlikely that week 10 games will be affected too. (And yet, the previous matchup of Boeun v Gyeongju in June was called a "Fierce Game in Hot Heat"..)
⬤ Also in Weeks 8-9, Incheon got a great start through Del Estal, and held on for a 2-1 win at Suwon (3rd). In turn, Suwon knocked Sejong down a position (to 5th) with a narrow 2-1, both goals by Yeo Min-ji, while Hwacheon KSPO (4th) won away 3-2 at Changnyeong (6th) in another rainstorm. ⬤ Today in week 10, Boeun have a chance of two shocks in two weeks as they host Suwon. I must also apologize for my repeated mis-spelling of the lergue's name all these years. Boeun Sangmu v Suwon WFC - (09:00 GMT, 18:00 KST) www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ghSfW1yW3c And another home test for Sejong, this is Incheon's first ever game there, at Sportstoto's temporary home ground. (So anything can happen...) Sejong Sportstoto v Incheon Red Angels www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd3uEOaZfz4
Some controversy at Boeun v Suwon, a penalty-box foul missed by the referee - to the fury of home coach Lee Mi-yeon. Then, the ref ran over and they had a 4-minute argument about the Laws of the Game...! Something that couldn't happen with any crowd heckling them. Ref! Stop timewasting, you gotta own your decision. Just tell her, "My terrible decisions are final", like the ref who awarded the USA the 2015 semifinal that time. Just own it! youtube.com/watch?v=1ghSfW1yW3c