Jesse Lingard produced one of his finest performances in FC Seoul colours on November 25, scoring twice and assisting another as the K League 1 side earned a crucial 3–1 victory over newly crowned Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port at Pudong Football Stadium. The win not only strengthens Seoul’s bid for a place in the knockout stages of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League Elite, but also serves as a sharp reminder that the former England international still has plenty to offer at the top level.
Lingard opened the scoring three minutes into the second half and later supplied the assist for Lucas Silva’s header in the 61st minute, shortly after Mateus Vital had momentarily equalised with a spectacular long-range effort. Thirteen minutes from time, Lingard struck again—this time with a composed first-time finish—to seal all three points and lift FC Seoul to eight from their first five games in the East Zone. Shanghai Port, meanwhile, remain bottom of the group with just one point.
From the opening whistle, the 32-year-old looked like the sharpest player on the pitch. He nearly found an early breakthrough with a free-kick that forced Yan Junling into a save, signalling his intent and setting the tone for Seoul’s early pressure.
Lingard arrived in South Korea in 2024 with many believing his best years were behind him, pointing to his struggles at Manchester United and his ill-fated stint at Nottingham Forest. But his time in the K League has slowly revived his confidence and rhythm—something this performance against Shanghai Port showcased in full.
The first half, however, was a largely forgettable affair. Shanghai Port wasted promising openings through Li Xinxiang, Wang Shenchao, and Wei Zhen, while FC Seoul’s own efforts lacked bite. Lingard scuffed a tame shot straight at Yan, and Jeong Seung-won saw a mis-hit attempt easily gathered, bringing a goalless, scrappy 45 minutes to a close.
Just three minutes into the second half, the game burst into life. FC Seoul pieced together an incisive move down the right, started by Marko Dugandžić—the Croatian striker who had been one of Rapid București’s standout performers before his move to Asia with Saudi Arabia’s Al Tai and now FC Seoul. Dugandžić drove forward and released Choi Jun, who timed his run perfectly to avoid the offside trap before returning the pass. Dugandžić then squared for Lingard, who swept the ball home with confidence.
Shanghai Port responded in the 57th minute through a moment of pure quality. Mateus Vital cut inside from the left and unleashed a curling right-footed strike from 25 yards, sending it screaming into the top corner and leaving goalkeeper Kang helpless.
But Seoul restored their lead just four minutes later. Lingard, drifting wide on the left, delivered a precise cross that Lucas Silva met with a firm header to make it 2–1.
Shanghai Port nearly hit back when Jeong Tae-wook’s attempted clearance ricocheted off his own crossbar, but the danger fizzled out. And with 13 minutes remaining, Seoul delivered the knockout punch. Hwang Do-yun burst into the box and squared the ball across, where Lingard arrived at the perfect moment to sweep home his second of the night.
It was a commanding, vintage display from a player who, even far from the Premier League spotlight, continues to show that he can still decide matches with ease and intelligence.