'Bucheon Victory' Jeju SK Coach Costa: "It Was a Game We Deserved to Win" [Bucheon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

K League 1's Jeju SK once again shifted its momentum by defeating Bucheon FC, its rival in the "home ground relocation derby." Sergio Costa (Portugal), Jeju's head coach, said, "It was a difficult game," but added, "It was fair that we won."

On the 5th, Jeju secured a 1-0 victory in an away match against Bucheon at Bucheon Sports Complex in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 12. Last month on the 4th, Jeju had also defeated Bucheon 1-0 at home, breaking a run of five opening matches (two draws, three losses). This time, Jeju reversed its recent two-game losing streak against Bucheon. With 15 points (four wins, three draws, five losses), Jeju leaped from 11th place to 6th place in a single move.

Jeju dominated the match throughout, leading 9-2 in shots during the first half, and ultimately secured a valuable three points thanks to Nam Tae-hee's first-half goal that proved decisive in the 30th minute of the second half. Jeju's ball possession on the day was 57%, and their shot count was 15-6, significantly ahead of Bucheon.

Coach Costa stated, "Both teams played well. Above all, I want to praise the opposing coach (Lee Young-min). Bucheon was a well-organized team today," but added, "Today, it was fair that we won. Looking at chances, possession, and scoring opportunities overall, it was a game we deserved to win."

Regarding Nam Tae-hee, who scored the crucial opening goal today, Costa praised him, saying, "He showed an fantastic performance." Coach Costa continued, "Nam Tae-hee played three days ago and played the full 90 minutes again today. He performs well in training as well. He not only scored a goal but also elevated the quality of our attack and contributed to our defense. It wasn't just Nam Tae-hee; everyone played well today."

With Nam Tae-hee scoring his first goal of the season, Jeju currently has no player with more than two goals, while nine players have each scored one goal. However, Coach Costa emphasized, "I am satisfied with the squad, and no changes are needed. If we score like today, we don't need a primary goal scorer." He explained, "We created many chances today, but some shots hit the post or were saved by the goalkeeper. We need to improve efficiency, but there is no need to force goals onto a single player."

Today, Jeju faced a variable when both starting center-backs (Tobias and Kim Jae-woo) were substituted due to injuries. Nevertheless, substitutes Ceresin and Kwon Ki-min combined to maintain a scoreless defense. Coach Costa said, "Players who rarely get opportunities often show very high quality when they come on. Kwon Ki-min, though only 20 years old, displayed experienced play. There are many players with the potential to show their abilities whenever they get a chance. Kwon Ki-min showed lion-like bravery today. Veteran players like Jung Woon also came off the bench and delivered fantastic performances."

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*This content was translated by AI.