Clutch Wins and Chirstmas Timber- The Adventures of a Seoul E-Land Fan Overseas Episode 6

Properly, we’re really coming to the enterprise finish of the 2024 Okay League 2 season. Some groups are beginning to understand that they will be unable to salvage a poor season, whereas others are starting to hope. For Seoul E-Land FC, it seems they’ve been given the inexperienced gentle to dare to dream. On the time of this posting, Seoul sits snugly in 2nd place, six factors behind FC Anyang, however with a recreation in hand.

Followers in Seoul are in unknown territory. They’ve by no means seen such success from an E-Land facet. The capital should be buzzing proper now. I phrase it like this as a result of, as , I’m not in South Korea. Sure, because the temperature begins to drop within the Land of the Morning Calm, I keep good and scorching in Thailand. Be a part of me as soon as once more as I proceed this collection concerning the lifetime of a Seoul E-Land fan overseas.

Bucheon Battering

Once I final up to date you, I used to be on Koh Larn, an island simply off Pattaya Metropolis. The final recreation was the win towards Busan I’Park, and I used to be on cloud 9. Nevertheless, in typical Seoul style, they went and misplaced their follow-up recreation. Seoul seemed a shadow of themselves from the sport prior and misplaced 2-0 to an distinctive Bucheon facet. Osmar was additionally given his marching orders and acquired a pink card.

As for myself, it was not how I seen the sport that was attention-grabbing. What was attention-grabbing was that this was my first double-header in Thailand. I watched the second half of this fixture in a taxi on my strategy to watch Pattaya United within the Thai League 2. For the ticket value of 120 baht (4,800 Korean received), I received to see a 1-1 draw between Pattaya United and Chainat Hornbill. The soccer will not be fairly on the identical stage because the Okay League, however who can complain at these ticket costs? Liquid refreshments will set you again 80 baht (3,800 Korean received), and a shirt with personalised printing prices 990 baht (40,000 Korean received).

The supporters of Pattaya United are fairly obsessed with their crew, and I most likely heard extra profanity in that one recreation than I did throughout my total time in South Korea. I, for one, might be returning for his or her subsequent residence match.

Seoul Whitewash Suwon

Properly, Seoul wanted to reply, and reply they did. Their subsequent recreation was towards the Okay League giants Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Seoul beat them of their first assembly in Mokdong, however might lightning strike twice? Properly, it did again in Could once they beat them a second time at Suwon World Cup Stadium. The third assembly on August twenty fifth was clearly going to be a revenge recreation for the Bluewings. Absolutely they weren’t going to lose thrice in a row to Seoul E-Land?

Properly, I discovered myself wandering across the completely different watering holes of Pattaya on this sunny Sunday afternoon, propping my telephone up towards the desk. When the primary purpose went in, I leapt up and frightened the server subsequent to me. I shortly completed my drink and left shortly after that. To at the present time, I’m nonetheless anxious about re-entering that institution. When the second purpose went in, I used to be sitting in a pizza restaurant with a New York slice. What stored my mouth shut on this event was the scalding scorching cheese from the freshly made pie—possibly this was divine intervention.

From Spring to Summer season to Christmas?

The final recreation of the summer season got here on August thirty first when Seoul made the journey to Ansan. In what was a really uninteresting 0-0 encounter, it was really a type of video games Seoul could look again with anger (see what I did there Oasis followers?) come the tip of the season. As for me, I watched this at residence, adorning a Christmas tree…

Sure, you learn that accurately. Apparently, it’s a Filipino custom to rejoice Christmas beginning in September. So, proper now, as you are studying this, sure, there’s a Christmas tree up in my condominium. I feel I want to present my thoughts a relaxation in the mean time—adorning a Christmas tree in 33-degree climate whereas watching Seoul play in a secular 0-0 match. My physique clock is way from impressed with me proper now.

Kim Do-kyun Time

The one huge factor I’ll at all times keep in mind about this 2024 Okay League 2 season for Seoul E-Land is their love for late objectives. They’ve carried out it in all three of their video games towards Suwon. In addition they preferred to place two previous Gimpo on this style. Nevertheless, it was this recreation that actually spoke volumes about Seoul’s will to win. Seoul lagged for many of the recreation. Then, the person of the hour, Osmar, stepped up.

Osmar equalized for Seoul within the 91st minute, giving the Leopards an opportunity. Nevertheless, the Spanish defender was not carried out and scored Seoul’s winner with the final kick of the sport within the 97th minute. Imagine me after I say this, I don’t suppose I’ve ever celebrated a Seoul E-Land purpose like that earlier than. I used to be on the 2021 Seoul Derby.

I used to be there when Seoul received within the dying moments, however I by no means celebrated like this. Perhaps my celebrations had been a bit an excessive amount of, as I acquired a telephone name shortly after from my higher half telling me she was too scared to come back into the condominium. She heard all of the cheering from down the hallway and thought I used to be having anger administration points.

As soon as I defined what had occurred, she was enthusiastic about watching the highlights. Perhaps we have now one other Seoul E-Land fan in Pattaya in spite of everything.

Daring to Dream

Properly, it was a great run, however I used to be ultimately going to overlook a match attributable to work, and sadly for me, it was most likely the largest recreation of the season for Seoul. Tuesdays are my busiest days, and it was a weeknight kick-off for what was 1st vs. 2nd on the time. As I used to be working away, I used to be continually checking the rating all through my working hour.

I sadly startled my consumer after I raised my fist because the purpose went in. I didn’t get to see it, however simply realizing that Seoul had been beating Anyang made me lose my composure. For the rest of the sport, I sat there anxious and fearful. Don’t get me flawed, I used to be finishing my duties with the very best professionalism, however let’s simply say I used to be checking my telephone each different minute. It received so dangerous that I turned my telephone onto airplane mode for the final ten minutes (don’t ask me why). When the full-time whistle blew, I used to be nearly completed with my work for the day. That bike taxi again had me cruising by means of site visitors, beaming from ear to ear. Perhaps we’re going to do that.

Could Seoul Rise within the Fall

Properly, right here we’re, with just one loss for the reason that final time we got here collectively to debate the state of Seoul. I’ve made some extent to myself that I’ll return to Korea if Seoul will get to the playoff finals. I’ve already booked the Philippines this Christmas, and I’m not precisely made of cash, so I must buckle up my concepts if Seoul continues to play the way in which they’re.

I do know the highest of the Okay League 2 desk could be very tight, however Seoul simply appears the perfect of the nice bunch. Solely time will inform if I discover myself on a flight to Incheon come the tip of November. The most important subject now’s that I’ve changed my lengthy padding coat with shorts. I’m unsure if that’s appropriate apparel for winter in Korea…