'Cha Du-ri's mercenary tactics paid off': Hwaseong defeats Ansan 2-0 for first season back-to-back wins and four-game unbeaten streak 'Kim Byeong-oh's winning goal explodes' [Hwaseon Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

K League 2 side Hwaseong FC defeated Ansan Greeners to secure their first back-to-back wins of the season and extend their unbeaten run to four matches (3 wins, 1 draw). Veteran Kim Byeong-oh (37), making his first start in four games, scored the crucial winning goal, while Woo Jae-uk sealed the victory late in the match.

Under the guidance of head coach Cha Du-ri, Hwaseong thoroughly defeated Ansan 2-0 in their home match in Round 10 of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 held at Hwaseon Sports Complex Main Stadium at 2 p.m. on the 3rd.

With this victory, Hwaseong secured their first back-to-back wins of the season following their previous match against Seoul E-Land. Including a 1-0 win over Jeonnam Dragons and a 2-2 draw against Gimpo FC, the team remains unbeaten in their last four matches. Their points total jumped to 15 (4 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses), propelling them directly into fourth place.

In contrast, Ansan, who had defeated Jeonnam in the previous round, failed to achieve their first back-to-back wins of the season, leaving them with regret. Their points remained at 11 (3 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses), pushing their chance to climb into the upper table to the next match.

The hero of the decisive goal that separated the fortunes of the two teams was Kim Byeong-oh. Making his first start in about a month since the match against Seongnam FC on the 4th, Kim did not miss a crucial header opportunity in the 5th minute of the second half. Before the match, Coach Cha Du-ri expressed high expectations for Kim's energy, stating, "It's very good to see him playing with enthusiasm beyond his age," and Kim delivered valuable results, bringing a bright smile to the coach's face.

Hwaseong deployed a 3-4-3 formation on this day, with Petrov (Serbia) at the center, flanked by Kim Byeong-oh and Flana (Kosovo) on the wings. Park Kyung-min and Kim Dae-hwan started as full-backs on both sides, while Lee Jong-seong and Kim Jeong-min formed the midfield. Jang Min-jun, Boyinovich (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Park Jun-seo constructed the defensive line. Kim Seung-geon was the goalkeeper.

Ansan countered with a 4-4-2 formation featuring Lima (Brazil) and Maczop (USA) as the striking duo. Jin Ho-jin and Kang Dong-hyun played on the wings, with Jo Ji-hoon and Kim Geon-oh positioned in midfield. Jang Hyun-soo, Obradovic (Serbia), Hatszel (Sweden), and Lim Ji-min formed the defensive line. Lee Seung-bin wore the goalkeeper gloves.

Both teams started cautiously, but from the middle of the first half, Hwaseong began creating opportunities one after another. In the 19th minute, Flana penetrated the defensive space and took a shot, which was blocked by the defense. Three minutes later, Kim Jeong-min's shot from a cut-back on the wing hit the goalpost but was ruled offside.

Hwaseong's attack continued. In the 25th minute, Flana's curling shot with his left foot was saved by the goalkeeper, and two minutes later, Kim Byeong-oh's non-stop shot following a cross from the wing also failed to find the net. One minute later, Kim Dae-hwan penetrated the defensive space and delivered a cross into the box, but the subsequent shot did not connect. Ansan, whose attacking chances repeatedly fell short, attempted a long-range shot by Lima in the dying moments of the first half, but it was caught by the goalkeeper.

Hwaseong, unable to break the balance, finally achieved results in the 6th minute of the second half. Kim Byeong-oh connected with a cross from Kim Dae-hwan arriving from the right wing with a header from the center of the penalty area, shaking the net. It was his first goal of the season, scored after six matches (three starts).

After conceding, Ansan immediately increased their possession and launched an offensive push for an equalizer. However, Hwaseong's defense, which had deepened their full-backs to effectively form a five-back shape, rarely allowed any gaps. Coach Cha Du-ri made a defensive change by substituting Yang Si-hoo for Park Kyung-min. Yang Si-hoo was deployed as the right center-back, while Kim Dae-hwan and Park Jun-seo took positions on the flanks.

Ansan also brought on Lee Jun-han for Jin Ho-jin. In response, Hwaseong threw their decisive cards by simultaneously introducing Demetrius, Cheol Jae-min, and Park Jae-seong. The plan was to create changes on both wings and aim for a decisive counter-attack. Indeed, Demetrius immediately penetrated the left side of the penalty area after coming on and even took a shot, threatening the opponent's goal.

The match thereafter unfolded with Ansan dominating the initiative and launching attacks, while Hwaseong responded with quick counter-attacks. However, Ansan struggled to create decisive chances, and Hwaseong also failed to convert opportunities, with shots from Park Jun-seo and Demetrius repeatedly falling short.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Ansan appeared to score a dramatic equalizer. Hatszel connected with a cross from the right wing with a header, shaking Hwaseong's net. However, the referee flagged Hatszel for a handball foul and disallowed the goal. Instead, in the final moments of stoppage time, Woo Jae-uk finished off a cross from the wing with his right foot, sealing the victory.

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*This content was translated by AI.