Jesse Lingard scored a superb goal for FC Seoul but his hopes of glory in his first campaign in South Korea are ebbing away.
He was on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline against Gwanju – but had reduced the arrears to 2-1 with a brilliant curling effort.
Lingard somehow scored with a host of defenders around himInstagram – JLingz
Prior to the match, Lingard’s side had still been in with a shout of wining the K League.
Leaders Ulsan were just eight points ahead with six matches to play.
However, a loss for his side and a win for the table-toppers over second-place Gimcheon Sangmu has seen the gap extend to 11 points with five games left.
And Lingard posted a video of his goal in the defeat, along with a message of defiance.
“5 big games left to achieve our goals,” he posted to the social media site.
He’s not wrong either, despite the title looking out of their grasp, especially as the division splits into two.
FC Seoul remain in contention for a sport in the AFC Champions League.
Usually the top two would qualify for the Elite league stage but Gimcheon Sangmu’s position in second means that a third place finish would put FC Seoul into the Elite league play-off.
And a fourth-place finish would put them into the Champions Legaue two group stage.
That’s because – as a military-owned team – Gimcheon Sangmu are unable to qualify for AFC competitions.
Lingard has been in good form for FC Seoul since returning from a hamstring injury in August.
He’s managed three goals and an assist in his last seven games, pushing the club into a position to challenge for continental competition next season.
FC Seoul have only lost two of those games, earning three wins and two draws.
They will have to improve this record if they are to reach the AFC Champions League, though.
Lingard joined FC Seoul in February on a free transfer after leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2022/23 season.