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Jesse Lingard sees yellow in FC Seoul debut

Published: 03 Mar. 2024, 12:24 Updated: 03 Mar. 2024, 16:25

PAIK JI-HWAN
[email protected]

FC Seoul's Jesse Lingard, center, dribbles the ball during a K League match against Gwangju FC at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju on Saturday. [NEWS1]

Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard picked up a yellow card in the dwindling minutes of his FC Seoul debut, which ended in a 2-0 loss to Gwangju FC on Saturday.

FC Seoul signs English footballer Jesse Lingard

FC Seoul struggled in the first half of their K League 1 opener at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju, failing to deal with Gwangju’s quick transitions from defense to attack that saw the capital side allow multiple shots on target and a goal to Lee Hee-gyun in the 20th minute.

The capital side found their rhythm in the second half with more possession, with Lingard coming on in the 76th minute to boost the attack.

Still, playing as a right winger, the English midfielder found little goal-scoring opportunity, recording only one shot that went high.

Gwangju’s cohesive defense put pressure on Lingard and prevented him from creating solid chances. He made a few crosses, but his teammates could not capitalize.

It fell short of his performance at United where he reliably broke through the defense with agile movements and dribbles and made effective passes.

Lingard then saw a yellow card in the 94th minute for a heavy tackle on Oh Hu-seong before FC Seoul conceded another goal in the last minute to Gabriel Tigrao for a 2-0 loss.

“As we have not spent a long time together yet, I don’t think he [Lingard] showed the performance from his glory days,” FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong said after the match. “I think he still showed good moves a few times. I will help him play better.”

He may need some time to adapt and return to his best form, as it was his first time playing a match since he became clubless in 2023 after his contract at Nottingham Forest expired.

Lingard, 31, made a surprising move to FC Seoul last month with a two-year deal and a third-year option.

He spent most of his career at United and was on the books with the Premier League club from 2011 through 2022, making 232 appearances during which he recorded 35 goals and 21 assists.

After his United contract expired in 2022, he signed with then-newly promoted Premier League club Forest on a one-year deal, making 20 appearances for the club. His contract with the team ended at the end of the 2022-23 season after which he did not sign for any club until joining FC Seoul.

But if Lingard and new manager Kim can find their footing, they may help end FC Seoul’s long trophy drought. Kim joined the team in December last year after leading fellow K League 1 club Pohang Steelers to win the 2023 Korean FA Cup and manage a runner-up finish in the league.

Having secured three league titles in 2010, 2013 and 2016, FC Seoul have not won a single trophy since their last league title in 2016.

The team finished in seventh place on the 12-team table last season.

FC Seoul will next play Incheon United at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on March 10 for their first game at home.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]