"I endured pain because I wanted to play so much... I'm sorry and sorry for the team."

Jeonbuk played the first leg of the 2023-2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League quarter-final against Ulsan HD at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 5th and drew 1-1. 스포츠토토

Jeonbuk scored the first goal in the fourth minute of the first half. Lee Dong-joon, who had a long pass from behind on the right side, dribbled and saw Song Min-gyu at the gate, and kicked a low and fast cross. Song calmly put his foot in the foot and cut Ulsan into the net.

Jeonbuk failed to take advantage of the extra goal opportunity. In the 21st minute of the first half, Lee Dong-joon fell due to a foul by Ulsan defender Lee Myung-jae, who raised his foot high in the box. The referee declared a penalty kick. Lee Myung-jae was warned. Jeonbuk sent out Thiago as a kicker. However, no goal was scored. Thiago hit the net.

The first half ended with Jeonbuk leading 1-0.

Ulsan scored the equalizer. Lee Myung-jae, who won a ball that Jeonbuk player failed to clear in the box in the 31st minute of the second half, promptly attempted to shoot and shook the net.

The match ended as it was. It ended in a 1-1 draw.

Lee Dong-joon, who had been outstanding on the side since the beginning of the game, was replaced at the beginning of the second half.

In response, Petrescu said, "It's an injury. I didn't replace him because he didn't do well. In the first half, Lee scored a assist and won a penalty kick. He showed good performance. I pulled him out just before the second half because I thought it would be difficult to play."

"I think we have to wait and see (about) the situation," Lee Dong-joon said in the mixed zone. "When the penalty was awarded, there was a hit on the side. I think it was a muscle injury."

"I immediately felt, 'I don't think I can play.' But I endured and played in the first half because I wanted to play so much. I kept feeling the pain, but if I went out right away, I felt like I would be shaken," he said.

"I was angry that it was an injury (because I was playing well). My physical condition was so good. I feel sorry for the team because I thought that if I could play normally in the second half, I would have shown good performances. I also feel sorry for the result because I thought it was a game that I could win no matter what."

Hwang Sun-hong, interim coach of the A national team, watched the game from the stands.

Coach Hwang will lead only two consecutive games against Thailand in the second qualifying round for the 2026 North-Central America World Cup in March.

South Korea will play its first game at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 21st and have its second showdown at 7:30 p.m. local time on the 26th at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Lee Dong-joon said, "Every player has a desire to play for the national team. If I do my best in the team, I think I will get good results someday."