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KSPO defeats No. 1 Hyundai Steel 2-1 in overtime to win the regular season title

Suwon FC players celebrate

South Korean women's soccer icon Ji So-yeon played a full 120 minutes as Suwon FC Wimin defeated Hwacheon KSPO to advance to the Women's Unemployed Soccer WK League championship final.

Suwon FC defeated KSPO 2-1 in extra time in the Hyundai Steel 2023 WK League Playoffs at Hwacheon Life Sports Park Stadium in Gangwon-do on the afternoon of the 11th.

With the win, Suwon FC advanced to the championship for the first time in four years since 2019, when they were part of Suwon City Corporation.

Suwon FC, who finished as runners-up to Incheon Hyundai Steel back then, will meet the eventual winner of this season's championship with Hyundai Steel, who also finished first in the regular season.

The championship match between the two teams will be held on April 19 (Suwon Sports Complex) and 25 (Incheon Namdong Asiad Stadium) in a home-and-home format. The time is 2 p.m. for both games.

Meanwhile, KSPO, who held the top spot until the final game of the regular season, ended the season without a championship.

After drawing the final match with Suwon FC 2-2 on August 29, KSPO accumulated 41 points, but missed out on a direct ticket to the championship by one point as Hyundai Steel's 6-0 victory over Seoul City Hall on the same day increased their points tally to 42.

KSPO met Suwon FC again in the playoffs, but this time they were unable to secure a victory.

Suwon FC dominated Gisun, led by national team duo Ji So-yeon and Moon Mi-ra.

Ji So-yeon of Suwon FC

In the 18th minute of the first half, Ji So-yeon's long pass from the back was accurately delivered to Moon Mi-ra, who ran into the back of the defense and finished with a strong left-footed shot from the penalty area.

After that, it looked like KSPO would concede the game after being pushed back by Suwon FC's offense, but in the 44th minute, Lee Jeong-jeong used his concentration in a chaotic situation in the penalty box to bring the game back to even.

After a 0-0 first half of extra time, the balance tipped in Suwon's favor when Mebae Tanaka scored a header in the seventh minute of the second half.

The header was saved by goalkeeper Min Yoo-kyung, but the ball crossed the goal line in midair and the goal was awarded.

Three minutes later, Ji So-yeon, who led Suwon FC's attack throughout the match, drove the ball directly to the doorstep on a counterattack and tried to find a wedge goal with a right-footed shot, but it narrowly hit the post.

KSPO had a chance just before the end of the match when Choi Ji-na found herself in the box, but her shot went straight at the goalkeeper.