'Bassini and Patrick' absent in Bucheon, Coach Lee Young-min: "Must defeat Pohang to make the Jeonbuk clash shine... The key lies in second balls" [Bucheon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

BucheonFC Coach Lee Young-min (53) vowed to secure the team's first home victory in K League 1.

Bucheon will face Pohang Steelers at 7 p.m. on the 17th at Bucheon Stadium in a K League 1 2026 Round 15 home match. Bucheon sits 11th with 14 points, while Pohang is 4th with 22 points.

As the final home match before the World Cup break, this game is more critical than ever for securing the three points needed to climb into the upper half of the table.

Coach Lee Young-min expressed his determination for victory ahead of the match. In the previous round against Jeonbuk Daejeon, Bucheon managed a 0-0 draw and earned a valuable point thanks to goalkeeper Kim Hyung-geun's 11 saves on target and the defensive line's physical resistance, despite the early setback of Bassini's red card in the second minute of the first half.

Coach Lee Young-min stated, "The players fought incredibly hard in the Jeonbuk match, which allowed us to secure a valuable point. However, I emphasized to the players that this single point will only truly shine if we win today's match. Only by winning today can we maintain the momentum to compete with top-tier teams even after the break."

However, the situation is not easy. With key attacker Bassini suspended due to disciplinary action, defender Patrick, who led the "iron defense" in the Jeonbuk match, has also been ruled out. Coach Lee Young-min explained, "Patrick received a substitution signal during the Jeonbuk match, but we were unable to make the change due to the circumstances. His condition worsened afterward, and he received medical treatment at a hospital, making him unavailable for today's match."

With a gap in the defensive line, Bucheon must face Pohang, the league's fourth-ranked team known for its solid organization. In their first meeting in March, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. Coach Lee Young-min noted, "Pohang is a team with excellent organization and extremely fast transitions between offense and defense. Ultimately, how we handle second balls will be the key to today's match."

Bucheon's top priority is to secure their first home victory in K League 1. Coach Lee Young-min emphasized that the most important factors for the squad are fighting spirit and the fans.

Coach Lee Young-min said, "While results are important, how we play on the field always comes first. Even if we draw like in the last match, we must show our best effort at home so that the fans can give us a standing ovation. Although there are challenges in competing in K League 1 since promotion, all our players are ready to give their all for the fans."

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*This content was translated by AI.