Lee Jung-hyo, the head coach of Suwon Samsung, did not hide his disappointment after his team suffered a dramatic collapse, conceding three goals in the second half to lose the Suwon Derby.
Playing at Suwon Sports Complex on May 3 in the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 10, Suwon Samsung lost 1-3 to Suwon FC after leading 1-0 at halftime. The first half was near perfect for the visitors: Ko Seung-beom scored the opener in the 18th minute, and Suwon Samsung registered six shots (five on target) while not allowing a single attempt from Suwon FC.
But the momentum shifted just four minutes into the second half when Ha Jeong-woo equalized. The defense then crumbled, with Choi Ki-yoon adding a second in the 25th minute and Ha Jeong-woo striking again in the 39th minute to seal the comeback. The loss snapped Suwon Samsung’s winning streak, and for the first time this season, they conceded three goals in a single match.
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After the match, Lee said in a press conference, “Suwon FC deserved to win. We need to maintain our intensity and performance for the full 90 minutes, not just the first half. In that regard, Suwon Samsung was far behind Suwon FC.”
He added, “We are not champions. We had to approach this match with a challenger’s mindset. Despite playing away, our fans always give us energy, and we failed to repay them. As the coach, I feel a great sense of responsibility. We will prepare well for the next match.”
Addressing the team’s anxious play in the second half, Lee was firm: “Of course, they feel pressure, but as professional players and as Suwon Samsung players, there should be no excuses.”
“On the pitch, we just need to do everything we can. If we lose the way we did today, we have to accept it and overcome it. If you can’t handle that pressure, you don’t deserve to be at Suwon Samsung. We are players who must win and overcome – professionals. There are no excuses,” he stressed.
Regarding the five goals conceded in the last two matches, including the one against Suwon FC, Lee admitted his concern. “It’s a worry. There’s a pressure not to settle for a draw after conceding, but that’s all just excuses. This situation requires no explanations.”
He continued, “When the game doesn’t go the way we want, we tend to get shaken quite a bit. As the head coach, I take responsibility and will work with the players through training and meetings to find a way to overcome this.”
Although Ko Seung-beom scored his first goal of the season from a rehearsed set piece, Lee downplayed the achievement. “We prepared a lot, and the players did well, but we lost the match, so it’s right not to give it too much meaning. If that goal had been the winner, it would have been a consolation for Ko Seung-beom and assistant coach Ma Cheol-jun, who worked on set pieces. I’m very disappointed.”