Seongnam vs. Daegu

Back in the beginning of July I had the privilege to take in another local soccer match. Thankfully, I had two other willing bodies that went with me to keep me company. In fact, it was these two companions that made the game that much more exciting. Kevin (our soccer manager) and Dylan (our keeper) accompanied me to watch a dynamic game over Daegu.

Prior to the game, it had rained. This stopped many of my friends as well as most of Seongnam’s supporters. Korean people have an absolute distaste for rain – and will go to the greatest lengths possible to avoid its wetness. This provided a unique situation as the stadium was virtually empty so we were able to pick and choose where to sit.

Rather immediately though, we were drawn to the avid supporters end as it seemed more lifelike than everything else. I think the real reason was being able to wave massive flags. Kevin got a little carried away with it all. Yet, this is what the game more stimulating to watch - as I had never before been part of a fanatical cheering section. It was fun to applaud and sing along to the Korean chants – even though we couldn’t tell what they meant.



At the end of the first half though, the constant noise was getting a bit tiring. As fun as it was, it was almost impossible to have a conversation without being interrupted by drumming or yelling. Also, sitting behind the goal is more riveting but doesn’t allow for a proper view of the pitch where you can see things develop. For the second half then, we sat in a more central location and were sufficiently pleased. The first half had been a bit scrappy at times as both teams were trying to deal with the slippery surface.

Things settled down in the second half though and the action heated up. Seongnam really came on strong at the end of the game, running up and down and creating loads of offensive chances. At the end of the day, Seongnam were just too skilled, fast and fit for Daegu. To be fair, one player especially made a difference for Seongnam. Mota (Brazilian) bagged two in the game and created a bunch of other opportunities as well. The game closed with two goals near 90 minutes to seal the deal. If I remember correctly, I think the final score was 4 to 1. I know one thing for sure – when they want to – Seongnam can play some truly exciting football!

All in all, it was a great night out. I had a lot of fun with Kevin and Dylan. Hopefully, I’ll get another chance to see more of Seongnam soon. Their season is drawing to a close shortly and it looks as though it’s going down to the wire. Currently, they’re sitting in 2nd spot, just three points behind Suwon. Let’s hope the mighty Seongnam come out on top!

-Paul