Opening Match (2)
The opening match opponent was Bucheon Metros, famous for their passionate cheering.
Since it was an away game for our team, we boarded the bus. This is where the advantage of being in the second division shines—most teams are clustered in the capital area, allowing same-day departures.
I was trying to steel myself for our first match of the season.
"Zzz... Phew..."
Why the hell was Yoon Chaewoo sitting here snoring away?
During preseason, he'd sat alone, but now he had seniors like Donghan or Chaewoo next to him. Leo Olmunt probably would've been touched.
The problem was that I was Yoon Jongmun. No mercy for me. I shoved away Chaewoo hyung's head as it lolled toward me, snoring and all.
I tried to catch a quick nap myself, but no dice.
"Zzz... Hack!... Phew..."
Thanks to that snoring, my mind stayed sharp. The other players glanced around too—no sleeping on the job.
Everyone was unwinding in their own way. Dojin hyung, for instance, was glued to his phone, reading intently.
Miguel was watching some Japanese lesson on YouTube. He'd be in deep shit if he wasn't good at soccer. Cocky bastard.
Across the aisle, Donghan hyung was smacking his lips while eyeing photos of the opposing squad. A chill ran down my spine again. Crazy Dog indeed...
The bus atmosphere was more subdued than lively, but no one looked down. It felt like quiet confidence.
With the snoring still going strong, I passed the time pondering our game plan against Bucheon.
Bucheon had never made it to the first division. But they weren't pushovers— they'd reached the playoffs two seasons straight, proving their mettle.
Their hallmark? Most would say the fervent supporters. But beneath that, they played gritty, solid soccer.
A few seasons from now, they might pop up in the first division. Escaping this second-division hell ain't easy, though.
Lost in thought, we arrived at the stadium before I knew it.
I nudged Chaewoo hyung awake and stepped off the bus.
The familiar stadium sight after so long felt welcoming, even if my taller frame gave me a fresh perspective.
"Huuuuh... Haah..."
Before entering, I let out a deep breath. My way of shaking off nerves.
"Whoa, you scared me!"
My teammates jumped at the sound. Must be the new vocal power—same volume, but it booms louder now.
Oh right, the club's Instagram Live was on. Shit, big mistake.
Imagining the community roasting me like that, I bolted.
Coach Nam Suhyeon and Chaewoo hyung arrived at the locker room late after media interviews. Being the opener, a couple articles might drop.
Prep proceeded smoothly after that—warm-ups, tactics briefing.
The odd bit? Coach gathered us ten minutes before kickoff.
"Remember what we've practiced. We're not underdogs. I think we can win this one."
Standard locker room pep talk. Even clichéd, it boosted morale.
Then came the bombshell.
"I didn't come here to scrape mid-table or lower. If that's your mindset, get out. I'm here to promote and win it all."
Coach paused, eyeing each player before continuing.
"Budgets, talent—sure, whatever. Did moneybags Jeju Mobiles tremble because of that? We're promotion material. We'll prove it by beating Bucheon today. Show everyone Gimpo Green UTD is a contender."
He grinned at the stunned squad.
"Go eat 'em alive!" "Yeah, let's go!" "Let's go!"
Chaewoo hyung and Dojin hyung's roars ignited the room. We hit the pitch buzzing with fire.
After the ceremonies, the match kicked off.
Do great. You got this.
Muttering that, deep breath, center circle.
Tweeeet!
Bucheon kicked off the opener.
**
Bucheon pressed hard from the jump.
I hustled nonstop, but balls to me and Miguel were scarce.
"Yejun! Behind you!" "Urk!"
Our U22 quota kid Yejun fumbled—the ball squirted to the foe.
Bucheon's target man Lee Donghyeon pounced, unleashing a shot.
Ting!
Luckily, it clanged off the post. No goal, but it chilled spines.
Bucheon kept dominating via pressure. We didn't just sit back, though.
"Line! Line! Wake up!"
Dojin hyung's call snapped our defense into shape. Looked slick even to me, mid-counter setup.
Green kits made us look like Sassuolo too.
Bucheon's variable press was nasty.
But our backline was vet-heavy. Beyond Chaewoo and Dojin hyung: Kim Hantae, Park Jinwoo—second-division grinders.
They countered the pressure with seasoned flair. Like pros handling noobs.
Though gaps appeared sometimes.
"Focus, focus!"
We had Hyeongjin hyung in goal. He snagged most shots easy.
Miguel and I pressed relentlessly on their build-up attempts.
About 15 minutes in, Bucheon started tiring.
Sensing opportunity, I prepped to infiltrate—then it hit.
A Bucheon defender's touch went long. Miguel snatched it with forward press. Dude really wants Japan.
No greed—he fed it to midfielder Jihoon hyung on the third line. Jihoon hyung lasered a long ball my way the instant he took it.
I'd bolted the second Miguel won it.
By Jihoon hyung's kick, I was on the offside line, accelerating.
Bucheon defenders scrambled late—too slow. My nagging press wore 'em, plus my raw speed.
"Huff... huff... Stop him!"
Ignored the desperate yell, sprinted on. Had to chase that lofted pass like a mortar.
A tad long, but that fueled my speed. Touched it ahead, streaked after.
Wind slicing my body—pure bliss.
Downside: pass curved right, no shooting angle.
Glanced left—our guys charging through Bucheon ranks. Chaewoo hyung with tons of space.
"Hyung!"
Low, quick cutback to him.
First goal of the opener? Game on easy street. Plus, my first assist logged.
Wait, what?
Chaewoo hyung mishit it.
Ting!
Ball ricocheted off the bar, landing awkwardly between keeper, defenders, and Miguel.
Scramble city.
Miguel pressing like his Japan dreams depended on it, sudden Lee Eunsang arrival, Chaewoo hyung redeeming his error—all in.
In the chaos, Chaewoo hyung snagged it again and struck true.
Splat!
Away Gimpo Green UTD fans erupted.
Chaewoo hyung looked sheepish post-goal. I knew why—no words needed. But I said it anyway.
"Assist." "Huh?" "Assist." "Oh, sorry, my bad." "Assist." "Yeah, okay, shit happens. Next one's in the net."
Perfect. Got the promise—grinned wide, jogged back.
"Olmunt."
Someone poked my back. Miguel.
"I won't miss."
He zipped off. Please mean it.
Post Chaewoo hyung's opener, flow shifted.
Whether my explosive pace or stamina—Bucheon's press softened.
Balls found me more often. I pounced.
Passed to in-form Lee Eunsang, overlapped. He danced past their fullback, drove inside.
My marker drifted—Eunsang crossed.
Passes just a hair long, tough shot. Chest-trapped the cross, dropped it to feet. Dribbled, dragged defenders in.
Bucheon backs hesitated, then crept up. First time seeing skills? Ego stung.
Wanted to nutmeg 'em bare, but pride don't pay bills. Held back.
Passing's easier anyway. Chaewoo hyung overlapping—lofted it over.
Won't whiff twice. First wasn't really a whiff—he whiffed my assist.
Chaewoo hyung didn't trap my lob. Volleys it clean. Why tho?
Wham!
Mighty crack—homer city.
Hyung admired his solo run a sec, thumbs-upped me, fled.
Why's the fullback feasting? And why whiff wingers when he's one?
Head throbbing, back to it.
At that point, I had no clue.
How much of a stir I was causing.