Jeonbuk, the 'champion candidate', didn't win again... A draw with Gimcheon → No win in 2 opening games

*This content was translated by AI.

Jeonbuk Hyundai, the "defending champion" who was considered the favorite to win the K-League 1 before the opening of the new season, failed to win the second game of the K-League.

Jeonbuk, led by head coach Chung Jung-yong, drew 1-1 with Gimcheon Sangmu in the second round of Hana Bank's K League 1 2026 away game at Gimcheon Stadium on the 8th.

Jeonbuk, which allowed Hong Yoon-sang to score the first goal in the counterattack in the fourth minute of the second half, managed to secure one point thanks to the theater equalizer that scored Thiago's cross in the extra time of the second half.

On the same day, Jeonbuk was 47%-53% behind Gimcheon in ball possession, and the number of shots was only 7 (Kimcheon 7).

Jeonbuk, which reached the top of the K-League 1 under Gus Foye's leadership last season, newly appointed coach Chung Jung-yong after Foye's departure.

Despite the variable of the change in the head coach, Jeonbuk received attention as a favorite ahead of the opening of this season along with Daejeon Hana Citizen, but only gained one point in the opening two games.

Earlier, Jeonbuk suffered a shock loss to "promotion team" Bucheon FC 2-3 in a home game held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 1st.

On the other hand, Gimcheon, which left head coach Chung-yong and made a fresh start under head coach Joo Seung-jin, drew 1-1 with Jeonbuk following the opening match against the Pohang Steelers.

On the same day, FC Anyang beat Jeju SK 2-1 at Anyang Stadium after a "last-minute slugfest" in which three goals were scored only after 42 minutes of the second half.

Anyang, which broke the balance with Mateus' first penalty goal in the 42nd minute of the second half when the tight 0 balance continued, seemed to miss the victory by losing the penalty equalizer to Negeva in extra time in the second half.

However, Anyang won the match dramatically when Matheus finished with his left foot on Elkurano's left-side grounder cross in the attack that followed immediately.

Anyang, which had previously tied 1-1 in Daejeon's away match, continued its upward trend with an unbeaten record (1 win and 1 draw) in the opening two games. On the other hand, Jeju fell into a swamp of winless (1 draw and 1 loss) for the second game following the draw against Gwangju FC.

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*This content was translated by AI.