Remembering the scene where Incheon United striker Jerso chose to pass instead of a shot in front of an empty goal post, he said, “The referee saved me.”
Incheon lost 0-1 in the 9th 메이저놀이터round home game of Hana One Q K League 1 2023 against Ulsan Hyundai held at the Incheon Soccer Stadium on the 25th. Incheon, which did not gain a point, maintained 9th place with 2 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, with 9 points.
Incheon ace Jerso played an active role as a replacement resource in the second half, not as a starter that day. It was because of coach Seong-hwan Cho’s strategy to finish the first half scoreless against leader Ulsan and then put in Gerso in the second half to win.
In the 9th minute of the first half, Incheon failed to achieve the goal of a scoreless goal by giving Martin Adam the winning goal, but with the start of the second half, Incheon put in Gerso and Hernandez to lead the game.
Zerso moved actively, created attacking opportunities, and made several decisive scenes.
Especially in the 27th minute of the second half, his breathing with Hernandez was brilliant. When Hernandez took the ball from Ulsan and launched his counterattack, he quickly penetrated the space behind the defense.
Hernandez connected a roving pass, and Ulsan goalkeeper Cho Hyeon-woo ran out and tried to handle it, but missed the ball. With only an empty goalpost left, Zerso attempted a somewhat ambiguous kick that neither shot nor passed. The ball went wide of the goal.
Prior to that, in the process of Jerso infiltrating, a foul was declared by pushing the Ulsan defense, but it was a regrettable moment for Jerso’s judgment.
After the game, Zerso confessed about this scene as an embarrassing moment.
Zerso, whom we met in the Mixed Zone, explained the situation at the time, saying, “It was a decision based on real instinct.”
Of course, what I meant was to kick for a goal,” Zerso added.
At the same time, he said that he lived thanks to the referee. Zerso smiled shyly, saying, “It was fortunate that the referee called for a foul. It was really embarrassing to miss such an opportunity.
Lastly, Zerso said, “I am angry with myself for not getting many attack points,” but said, “I made a bet with Hernandez and Shin Jin-ho. I want to become a player who is helpful to the team. If you work hard in every game, that will come after you.”