GWANGJU'S MIRACLE, KOBE'S TEARS 'JAPAN BLAMES SHANDONG FOR MENTAL BREAKDOWN'·····"WHEN I DIDN'T SAY IT, IT FELL TO FIFTH PLACE BECAUSE OF SHANDONG, AND I AVOIDED IT."

The "Miracle in Gwangju" was both a pain and a nightmare for Kobe. Not only Kobe, the J-League champion who lost to Gwangju FC by allowing three goals, but also the Japanese soccer community was in a big shock. Gwangju, led by head coach Lee Jung-hyo, overwhelmed Kobe 2-0 in the second round of the 2024-25 Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) rou