Gangwon rises to 2nd place! Thrilling 2-1 away win against Jeonbuk → '3-game winning streak + 6 games unbeaten'... Song Jun-seok and Lee Yu-hyun score consecutive goals [Jeonju On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Gangwon FC has climbed to second place in the league. Like two years ago, they are once again entering the race for the championship.

On the 4th, Gangwon secured a thrilling 2-1 away victory against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 16 match. With this win, Gangwon extended their unbeaten run to six games (four wins and two draws), including a three-game winning streak. Their season record now stands at seven wins, six draws, and three losses (27 points), and they have jumped from fourth to second place in the standings. They are also beginning to close the gap on league leaders FC Seoul (32 points).

Most of the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup squad members from both teams did not play in today's match. Gangwon defender Lee Ki-hyeok was listed on the bench. Although he could have rested, Jeong Kyung-ho, Gangwon's head coach, praised him as "something Lee Ki-hyeok volunteered for."

Head Coach Jeong spared no praise for Lee Ki-hyeok. After unexpectedly making the final roster for the North America World Cup against all expectations, Lee quickly established himself as a starting defender for the national team. He started in all three group stage matches alongside Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) in a back-three formation.

Head Coach Jeong Kyung-ho said, "Lee Ki-hyeok did well. If he had started in three consecutive games, I would consider that excellent. It will remain a significant asset for him, and I believe he will continue to grow."

Gangwon lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Ko Young-jun and Choi Byung-chan started as the twin strikers. Kim Dae-won, Seo Min-woo, Lee Yu-hyun, and Mo Jae-hyun played as midfielders. Song Jun-seok, Shin Min-ha, Kang Tu-ji, and Kang Jun-hyeok formed the back four. Park Cheong-hyo guarded the goal.

Head Coach Jeong Kyung-ho said, "The seven-week World Cup break passed quickly. We prepared as best we could, but our first match was against a strong team like Jeonbuk. It was also an away game. This is a very important match for both us and Jeonbuk in the race for standings. I believe the players will perform well, so I will fight hard."

Jeonbuk did not include World Cup national team players such as Kim Jin-gyu, Kang Sang-yoon, and Song Beom-geun on their match roster. Goalkeeper Song Beom-geun was also given rest, with Lee Ju-hyeok starting in goal instead.

Head Coach Jeong Jeong-yong of Jeonbuk explained, "It was a difficult decision, but the national team players have not had any rest since being called up. I judged that it would be good for them to refresh themselves. We also needed to consider the players' perspectives, and these players worked hard during the World Cup." The Jeonbuk players who were part of the World Cup squad are scheduled to rejoin team training on the 6th.

Jeonbuk deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Motta started as the lone striker, supported by Kim Seung-seop, Oberdan, and Lee Dong-jun in the second line. Lee Young-jae and Maeng Sung-woong took charge of the midfield. Choi Woo-jin, Kim Young-bin, Park Ji-soo, and Kim Tae-hwan formed the back four. The goalkeeper was Lee Ju-hyeok.

Neither team fielded their full strength. In the early stages of the match, Gangwon's Kim Dae-won and Jeonbuk's Lee Dong-jun created good chances but failed to convert them into goals.

Gangwon was the side that broke the balance. A single set-piece proved decisive. In the 25th minute of the first half, Gangwon won a free kick near the penalty arc after an opponent committed a handball foul. Song Jun-seok, taking the kick, struck a low and powerful shot with his left foot. It was a surprise shot that defied expectations of clearing the defensive wall. Goalkeeper Lee Ju-hyeok lunged late, but the ball had already found the far corner of the net.

Gangwon also had an opportunity to add another goal in the 33rd minute of the first half. Choi Byung-chan took a shot in front of the opponent's goal, but it went straight at the goalkeeper. Jeonbuk attempted a counterattack using Lee Dong-jun's speed, but gained no clear advantage.

Jeonbuk immediately substituted Choi Woo-jin out for Kim Tae-hyun at the start of the second half. However, the momentum shifted in Gangwon's favor. Gangwon scored another goal to extend their lead to 2-0.

This time, captain Lee Yu-hyun delivered the solution. In the 8th minute of the second half, Mo Jae-hyun passed the ball from the right side of the penalty box, which Lee Yu-hyun immediately connected with a direct shot. The ball was precisely drawn into the far corner of the goal. As Gangwon took a two-goal lead, head coach Jeong Kyung-ho smiled broadly and celebrated.

Jeonbuk, pushed to the brink, actively made substitutions. Head Coach Jeong Jeong-yong introduced attackers Lee Seung-woo and Gam Bo-a to create changes. The effect was immediate. In the 29th minute of the second half, Lee Seung-woo scored a consolation goal. After Lee Dong-jun's shot hit the crossbar and rebounded, Lee Seung-woo, standing nearby, took another shot that shook the net. Although the assistant referee initially called offside, the goal was ultimately awarded after video assistant referee (VAR) review.

However, Jeonbuk needed one more goal to equalize. Gangwon maintained their concentration until the final moments. Holding firm against Jeonbuk's attacks, Gangwon secured a valuable three points away from home by preserving their one-goal lead.

Gangwon continued their upward momentum by defeating powerhouse Jeonbuk in their first match after the World Cup break. They achieved a three-game winning streak, six games unbeaten, and a leap to second place in the league. They have once again reached a position where they can look forward to competing for the championship.

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*This content was translated by AI.