Tiago Orobó "very honoured" to score Daejeon's first K League 1 goal in over seven years

Tiago Orobó says that he is "very honoured" to have been the player that scored Daejeon Hana Citizen's first goal back in K League 1 in over seven years. The Brazilian star put Daejeon in front at home to Gangwon FC in what was an eventual 2-0 win for the Purples in Round 1 of the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1. 

It took just 11 minutes for Tiago Orobó to find his first Daejeon Hana Citizen goal. The winter recruit from Gyeongnam FC tucked the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle after being played through by Leandro.

The goal was initially disallowed after the referee's assistant on the far side raised his flag for offside.

But a VAR review showed that Tiago had timed his run to perfection.

Speaking to K League United after the game, Tiago spoke of his happiness to get on the scoresheet.

"I'm happy for the goal, especially because we had a good game but we have to continue on working hard because we have difficult games. We just have to keep on working hard."

The goal was Daejeon's first at K League 1 level since the final day of the 2015 season on 28th November that year, Wanderson currently of Pohang Steelers added a consolation goal in the 91st minute to make the score Gwangju FC 2-1 Daejeon Citizen.

Daejeon's last K League 1 goal in a win actually goes back even further, to October 24th 2015 against Busan IPark. Seo Myeong-won's second goal of the afternoon which came in the 65th minute of that match was the last.

[READ: 2023 K League 1 Round 2 Preview]

Interestingly, current Daejeon players Lee Chang-geun and Ju Se-jong both played in that match for Busan.

But Tiago wasn't aware of how long it had been since his new club had scored in the top division.

"I wasn't even aware that it was our first goal in K League 1 in a long time but I'm very honoured to do so, I just want to keep on playing and scoring more goals."

Speaking at what was a packed post-match press conference following the 2-0 win over Gangwon, Daejeon boss Lee Min-sung spoke highly of Tiago and the scorer of Daejeon's second goal Leandro, saying he has faith in their ability to make the step-up from K League 2.

"I have never once thought that players from K League 2 can't play in K League 1. K League 2 is a jungle. There's no league with pressure like it. I thought Leandro would have a lot of space (in K League 1) but he did well to find that space. Tiago as well, it's not just his heading, he's technically good with his feet."

Up next for Daejeon Hana Citizen is Incheon United away on Saturday, 4th March at 14:00.

Listen to the interview with Tiago as well as Leandro and Anton on this week's episode of the K League United Podcast here

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