Well, we are truly coming to the business end of the 2024 K League 2 season. Some teams are starting to realize that they will not be able to salvage a poor season, while others are beginning to hope. For Seoul E-Land FC, it appears they have been given the green light to dare to dream. At the time of this posting, Seoul sits snugly in 2nd place, six points behind FC Anyang, but with a game in hand.
Fans in Seoul are in unknown territory. They have never seen such success from an E-Land side. The capital must be buzzing right now. I word it like this because, as you know, I am no longer in South Korea. Yes, as the temperature starts to drop in the Land of the Morning Calm, I stay nice and hot in Thailand. Join me once again as I continue this series about the life of a Seoul E-Land fan abroad.
Bucheon Battering
When I last updated you, I was on Koh Larn, an island just off Pattaya City. The last game was the win against Busan I’Park, and I was on cloud nine. However, in typical Seoul fashion, they went and lost their follow-up game. Seoul looked a shadow of themselves from the game prior and lost 2-0 to an exceptional Bucheon side. Osmar was also given his marching orders and received a red card.
As for myself, it was not how I viewed the game that was interesting. What was interesting was that this was my first double-header in Thailand. I watched the second half of this fixture in a taxi on my way to watch Pattaya United in the Thai League 2. For the ticket price of 120 baht (4,800 Korean won), I got to see a 1-1 draw between Pattaya United and Chainat Hornbill. The football is not quite on the same level as the K League, but who can complain at those ticket prices? Liquid refreshments will set you back 80 baht (3,800 Korean won), and a shirt with personalized printing costs 990 baht (40,000 Korean won).
The supporters of Pattaya United are quite passionate about their team, and I probably heard more profanity in that one game than I did during my entire time in South Korea. I, for one, will be returning for their next home match.
Seoul Whitewash Suwon
Well, Seoul needed to respond, and respond they did. Their next game was against the K League giants Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Seoul beat them in their first meeting in Mokdong, but could lightning strike twice? Well, it did back in May when they beat them a second time at Suwon World Cup Stadium. The third meeting on August 25th was clearly going to be a revenge game for the Bluewings. Surely they were not going to lose three times in a row to Seoul E-Land?
Well, I found myself wandering around the different watering holes of Pattaya on this sunny Sunday afternoon, propping my phone up against the table. When the first goal went in, I leapt up and frightened the server next to me. I quickly finished my drink and left shortly after that. To this day, I am still worried about re-entering that establishment. When the second goal went in, I was sitting in a pizza restaurant with a New York slice. What kept my mouth shut on this occasion was the scalding hot cheese from the freshly made pie—maybe this was divine intervention.
From Spring to Summer to Christmas?
The last game of the summer came on August 31st when Seoul made the trip to Ansan. In what was a very dull 0-0 encounter, it was truly one of those games Seoul may look back with anger (see what I did there Oasis fans?) come the end of the season. As for me, I watched this at home, decorating a Christmas tree…
Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, it is a Filipino tradition to celebrate Christmas starting in September. So, right now, as you’re reading this, yes, there is a Christmas tree up in my apartment. I think I need to give my mind a rest at the moment—decorating a Christmas tree in 33-degree weather while watching Seoul play in a mundane 0-0 match. My body clock is far from impressed with me right now.
Kim Do-kyun Time
The one big thing I will always remember about this 2024 K League 2 season for Seoul E-Land is their love for late goals. They’ve done it in all three of their games against Suwon. They also liked to put two past Gimpo in this fashion. However, it was this game that really spoke volumes about Seoul’s will to win. Seoul lagged for most of the game. Then, the man of the hour, Osmar, stepped up.
Osmar equalized for Seoul in the 91st minute, giving the Leopards a chance. However, the Spanish defender was not done and scored Seoul’s winner with the last kick of the game in the 97th minute. Believe me when I say this, I don’t think I have ever celebrated a Seoul E-Land goal like that before. I was at the 2021 Seoul Derby.
I was there when Seoul won in the dying moments, but I never celebrated like this. Maybe my celebrations were a bit too much, as I received a phone call shortly after from my better half telling me she was too scared to come into the apartment. She heard all the cheering from down the hallway and thought I was having anger management issues.
Once I explained what had happened, she was interested in watching the highlights. Maybe we have another Seoul E-Land fan in Pattaya after all.
Daring to Dream
Well, it was a good run, but I was eventually going to miss a match due to work, and unfortunately for me, it was probably the biggest game of the season for Seoul. Tuesdays are my busiest days, and it was a weeknight kick-off for what was 1st vs. 2nd at the time. As I was working away, I was constantly checking the score throughout my working hour.
I unfortunately startled my client when I raised my fist as the goal went in. I didn’t get to see it, but just knowing that Seoul were beating Anyang made me lose my composure. For the remainder of the game, I sat there anxious and fearful. Don’t get me wrong, I was completing my tasks with the highest professionalism, but let’s just say I was checking my phone every other minute. It got so bad that I turned my phone onto airplane mode for the last ten minutes (don’t ask me why). When the full-time whistle blew, I was almost finished with my work for the day. That motorbike taxi back had me cruising through traffic, beaming from ear to ear. Maybe we are going to do this.
May Seoul Rise in the Fall
Well, here we are, with only one loss since the last time we came together to discuss the state of Seoul. I have made a point to myself that I will go back to Korea if Seoul gets to the playoff finals. I’ve already booked the Philippines this Christmas, and I’m not exactly made of money, so I need to buckle up my ideas if Seoul continues to play the way they are.
I know the top of the K League 2 table is very tight, but Seoul just looks the best of the good bunch. Only time will tell if I find myself on a flight to Incheon come the end of November. The biggest issue now is that I’ve replaced my long padding coat with shorts. I’m not sure if that is suitable attire for winter in Korea…
