Yoon Jeong-hwan, Incheon, Jeonbuk 'Again' Captured! Jerzo's Winning Goal Leads 1-0 Victory, Breaking 'Two-Game Losing Streak' [Incheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Professional football club K League 1's Incheon United defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors once again. This season, they have achieved a perfect record of two wins against Jeonbuk.

Under head coach Yoon Jeong-hwan, Incheon secured a 1-0 victory over Jeonbuk at their home match in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 18 held at Incheon Football Stadium on the afternoon of the 18th at 7:30 p.m., thanks to Jerzo's winning goal.

Earlier this April, Incheon had already defeated Jeonbuk 2-1 in an away match, breaking their two-game winless streak (one draw, one loss). This time, they once again used Jeonbuk as a stepping stone to snap their two-game losing streak.

After the World Cup break, Incheon earned three points for the first time this season, accumulating 24 points (7 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses), which lifted them to sixth place in the league standings.

In contrast, Jeonbuk failed to maintain their momentum from last round's 3-1 away victory against Ulsan HD, remaining at 29 points (8 wins, 5 draws, 5 losses) and unable to hold onto second place.

On this day, Incheon deployed a 4-4-2 formation with Perrier and Lee Chung-yong as the striking duo, while Jerzo, Seo Jae-min, Seo Jae-min, and Lee Dong-rin formed the midfield line. The defensive line consisted of Lee Ju-yong, Juan Ibiiza, Kim Geon-hee, and Kim Myung-soon, with Kim Dong-heon in goal.

Jeonbuk adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation with Motta leading the attack, supported by Kim Seung-seop, Kang Sang-yoon, and Lee Dong-jun on the second line. Kim Jin-gyu and Oberdan coordinated in midfield. The defensive line included Kim Ha-jun, Jo Wi-je, Park Ji-su, and Kim Tae-hwan, while Song Beom-geun guarded the goal.

Jeonbuk controlled the first half, maintaining over 60% ball possession to exploit Incheon's weaknesses. However, Incheon's defense remained solid. Jeonbuk's attacks targeting spaces behind the defense were repeatedly caught offside. In the 14th minute of the first half, a cross from the flank connected with Motta's header, shaking the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Incheon looked for opportunities through counterattacks after holding a solid defense. In the 27th minute of the first half, Seo Jae-min's powerful long-range shot from directly in front of the arc threatened Jeonbuk's goal. However, the shot went straight at the goalkeeper. This was the first shot of the match by either team.

Jeonbuk seized an opportunity in the 42nd minute of the first half. Lee Dong-jun intercepted a throw-in on the flank and dribbled into the opponent's territory, earning a free kick after Juan Ibiiza fouled him from the right side of the arc. However, Kim Jin-gyu's free kick was blocked by the defensive wall, and Motta's subsequent header off a cross went straight at the goalkeeper.

After surviving a dangerous moment, Incheon immediately scored the opening goal. Perrier controlled the ball inside the penalty box and passed it to Seo Jae-min, who connected with a right-footed shot. Goalkeeper Song Beom-geun deflected the shot, but Jerzo rushed into the box and finished with his left foot. The key issue was whether he was offside, but after an extended discussion with the video review room, the referee awarded the goal.

Jeonbuk launched a counterattack in the second half after conceding. However, they failed to capitalize, as Kim Jin-gyu's surprise shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Incheon also saw Perrier's long-range shot go straight at the goalkeeper. The match continued with intense back-and-forth exchanges. While Jeonbuk pressed for an equalizer, Incheon sought a decisive goal through counterattacks led by Jerzo and Perrier.

Unable to shift the momentum, Jeong Jeong-yong, Jeonbuk's head coach, made a tactical change in the 21st minute of the second half. Lee Dong-jun and Kim Seung-seop were substituted out, while Kim Ye-geon (born in 2008) and Han Seok-jin (born in 2007) were brought on simultaneously. This was Han Seok-jin's K League debut match. Immediately after the substitution, Jeonbuk generated a shot from Oberdan, but it struck goalkeeper Kim Dong-heon's hand and hit the goalpost, compounding their misfortune.

Jeonbuk launched a counterattack centered around substitute Kim Ye-geon. Kim Ye-geon attempted to open up the attack with bold long-range shots threatening the opponent's goal or by trying to break through between two defenders. Later, Jeonbuk utilized Lee Young-jae and Choi Woo-jin as substitutes before bringing on Gites as their final substitution card for a last-ditch effort.

As the match approached its final moments, Jeonbuk's offensive intensity for an equalizer grew stronger. However, Incheon's focus at home to secure victory was equally sharp. In the 39th minute of the second half, Kim Ye-geon's precise through pass connected with Han Seok-jin's shot, but Han Seok-jin's shot missed the goal by a wide margin, leaving them disappointed.

Head coach Yoon Jeong-hwan made his final change in the 40th minute of the second half, simultaneously bringing on Mo Go-sa, Choi Seung-gu, and Jeong Ji-in. Despite the intense back-and-forth battle until the final moments, there was no turnaround. The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Incheon as the referee blew the final whistle.

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*This content was translated by AI.