Pohang hugs FA Cup for first time in 10 years with 3 late goals

Tied for 5th win with Jeonbuk

Coach Kim Ki-dong thrilled with debut win

Jong-woo Jong, MVP for backbreaking final goal

Pohang's players celebrate with the championship trophy after defeating Jeonbuk 4-2 in the Football Association (FA) Cup final on Thursday. It was Pohang's first FA Cup title in 10 years and fifth overall since 2013. 

Professional soccer Pohang coach Kim Ki-dong, 52, has mostly finished in the top half of the table since his debut in charge, but hasn't won a title. Kim made his managerial debut during the 2019 season, when Pohang finished fourth in the K League 1. The following year, Pohang moved up one spot to finish third. In 2021, they finished ninth in the K League 1, but finished runners-up in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. Last year, they finished third in the K League 1, and this season, they are in second place with three games remaining. However, this season's K League 1 trophy is already in Ulsan's hands.

Kim received his first rinse after his debut as a manager by winning the Football Association (FA) Cup. Pohang won the title with a 4-2 victory over Jeonbuk in the FA Cup final, which was played in a four-legged tie. It was the club's first title in 10 years and fifth overall since 2013. In 2013, Pohang also defeated Jeonbuk on penalties in the FA Cup final to lift the trophy. Pohang is also tied with Jeonbuk and Suwon for the most FA Cup titles (5). The FA Cup title also secured Pohang a spot in next year's AFC Champions League.

"This is the first time I've won a championship since I became a coach. It's a moment I've been dreaming about," he said, adding, "Before the game today, I told the players to 'believe in me' and I believed in them." "I want to praise the cohesion the players showed," he said.

Pohang conceded the first goal to Jeonbuk in the 17th minute, but equalized in the 44th minute. They conceded a penalty goal in the sixth minute of the second half to fall back to 1-2, but they scored three goals in stoppage time to win by two goals. Pohang's Kim Jong-woo, who scored the game-winning goal in the 33rd minute to make it 3-2, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Kim Jong-woo, who played for Gwangju until last year and donned the Pohang jersey this season, has made 19 appearances in the K League 1 without scoring a goal. After scoring his first goal for the club in the FA Cup Final, Jong-woo said, "I felt sorry for the fans, the coach, and the club. I didn't help the team much, but the coach believed in me until the end." 19가이드03