Seongnam FC edge FC Seoul in FA Cup

Seongnam FC coach Kim Hak-bum, center, Shin Moon-sun, president of the club, right, and Lee Jae-myeong, Seongnam City mayor, left, hold up the FA Cup trophy at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, Sunday. The team claimed the title after defeating FC Seoul 4-2 in a penalty shootout. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

Seongnam FC hoisted the 2014 FA Cup trophy Sunday after a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over FC Seoul at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Despite Seoul’s overwhelming possession throughout the game, Seongnam FC were rock solid defensively, which meant 120 minutes passed scoreless.

Seongnam goalkeeper Park Jun-hyung was the hero in the World Cup Stadium, saving two penalties in the shootout and being named the game’s MVP.

This was Seongnam’s third FC Cup trophy having won the 1999 and 2011 decider back when they were called Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.

The Football Association Cup, commonly known as FA Cup, is an annual knockout cup tournament. With the victory, Seongnam received 200 million won as prize money and earned a chance to advance to next year’s Asian Champions League where the top Asian football clubs compete.

“First of all, I am sorry to FC Seoul, but we desperately needed this trophy,” Seongnam FC coach Kim Hak-bum said after the match.

“This is our first year as Seongnam FC. With this victory as a momentum, I think the team will continue to improve. I would like give my gratitude to everyone who has been supporting us.”

Based in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province, Seongnam FC had been regarded as one of the most successful Asian football clubs, winning seven K-League titles and Asian Champions League title twice.

However, the club has remained in the lower ranks for the past few seasons due to financial difficulties after the team’s sponsor Unification Church stopped bankrolling them. Last year, the team was sold to Seongnam City Government and changed their official name to Seongnam FC, but still struggled with money.

“This win was critical. Many professional football clubs ran by the city or provincial government are struggling with financial issues. As a team ran by the city government, the best opportunity to make improvements is by winning the title. I guarantee that we will give a good performance at next year’s Asian Champions League as well,” Kim added.

Despite their victory in the FA Cup, Seongnam FC is currently ranked 11th in K-League Classic and embroiled in a dogfight with 12th ranked Sangju Sangmu and 10th-ranked Gyeongnam FC to evade relegation to the second-division K-League Challenge.

For FC Seoul, who aimed to make their third-consecutive appearance at the Asian Champions League, the loss was a disappointing one. The team, currently ranked fourth in the K-League Classic with 14 wins, 12 draws and 10 losses in 36 matches, is three points behind Pohang Steelers, who are placed third.