Chuncheon Citizens Football Club (Chuncheon) of the K3 League picked up its first three points in a long time with a 1-0 victory over Paju Citizens Football Club (Paju) at home.
Chuncheon, led by Chuncheon native Chung Sun-woo, earned a 1-0 home win over Paju in the 25th round of the 2023 K3 League at Songam Sports Town Main Stadium 스포츠토토 in Chuncheon on March 9. With the win, Chuncheon snapped a three-match winless streak (one draw and two losses) and moved to sixth place in the league with eight wins, nine draws and six losses, and 33 points.
Chuncheon struck early. In the seventh minute, Han Bu-sung, who was in the right area of the halfway line, sent a roving pass toward the center, where Lee Pung-beom deflected it with his chest to Jung Jong-hoon, who was rushing into the box. Despite the poor trapping direction, Jeong Jong-hoon was able to strip the defense with a short dribble in a tight space and ripped a right-footed shot into the top left corner of the goal.
Afterward, Paju’s offense was intense, but they cried out for saves from Chuncheon goalkeeper Park Hee-geun and bad luck on goal. In the 29th minute, Paju’s Ahn Eun-san received a forward pass that broke the defense line and shot with his right foot near the box, but Park Hee-geun made the save. In the 35th minute, Paju’s Lee Sang-hyeop attempted a right-footed mid-range shot from the far side of the arc, but it hit the top of the goal.
The second half followed a similar pattern. In the 40th minute, Paju’s Moon Jin-yong’s header hit the post, and Kim Sung-hwan rattled the net with a second shot in front of the goal, but it was ruled offside. In the 44th minute, Moon Jin-yong again headed in a cross from the right, but Park Hee-geun was able to make the save and the match ended with a 1-0 Chuncheon victory.
Meanwhile, Chuncheon will take on Gangneung Citizens Football Club in the ‘Gangwon Province Derby’ at 6 p.m. on Nov. 13 at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Main Stadium.