Professional soccer K League 2 Gimpo FC defeated Gyeongnam FC to advance to the ‘Hana One Q K League Promotion Playoffs 2023’, raising their dream of promotion to the first division.Gimpo defeated Gyeongnam 2-1 in the first leg of the Hana One Q K League 2 2023 Playoffs (PO) at the Gimpo Solter Soccer Field on April 2, with 10 men due to a ‘red card’.As a result, Gimpo will play a home-and-away promotion PO (December 6 at Gimpo Solter Football Stadium and December 9 at Gangneung Sports Complex) against the 10th-ranked Gangwon FC in the K League 1 after two years in the K League 2.On the other hand, Gyeongnam failed in the K League 2 PO for the second consecutive year, and coach Seol Ki-hyun, who was not re-signed, left the team for the last time against Gimpo.In addition, K League 2 runner-up Busan I-Park will play a relegation PO (December 6 Busan Asiad Stadium-9 Suwon General Sports Complex) against Suwon FC, which secured the 11th place in K League 1, on the same day.Gimpo (3rd), who could qualify for the promotion PO with a tie due to their high regular season ranking, pushed Gyeongnam (4th), who broke through the semi-PO, from the beginning of the match.
Gimpo came up short in the 21st minute when Lewis’ left-footed shot hit the crossbar after breaking down the left flank and penetrating into the penalty area.In the end, it was Lewis who scored Gimpo’s first goal.Lewis received a pass from Kim Jong-seok in the midfield in the 29th minute and rattled the Gyeongnam goal net with a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area.Gyeongnam, which had broken through the Junpo, did not back down easily.Gyeongnam equalized in the 35th minute when Won Ki-jong hit a right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area in a chaotic situation.However, Gyeongnam’s momentum was derailed in the 38th minute when Seol Hyun-jin was sent off after receiving a red card through video assistant referee (VAR) for a rough tackle.With the numerical advantage, Gimpo sealed the victory in the 45th minute through the ‘first goal hero’ Kim Jong-seok.Kim Jong-seok struck a cross from Kim Yi-seok on the right side of the penalty area with his right foot, and after the goalkeeper was beaten, he finished with his left foot. With one goal and one assist, Kim Jong-seok was the main contributor to the victory.Gyeongnam, who were outnumbered, were frustrated in the 13th minute of the second half when Park Min-seo picked up a ball from the back and seemed to score from the left side of the penalty area, but the offside flag was raised.Gimpo, who will advance to the PO 스포츠토토존 even if they tie, held off Gyeongnam’s last-minute offense to seal the win.