Seoul remains undefeated in 5G! Even Bucheon, which had not been defeated, was beaten 3-1... Cle Malala's one goal and one assist performance [Bucheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Leading the K League 1 in professional soccer, FC Seoul overcame a difficult away match against Bucheon FC and continued its upward momentum.

On the 19th, Seoul secured a 3-1 victory in an away game against Bucheon at the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 18 held at Bucheon Sports Complex. Jo Young-wook scored the opening goal in the 42nd minute of the first half, and Jung Seung-won added two consecutive goals in the 9th minute of the second half.

With this result, Seoul recorded 12 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses (39 points), firmly maintaining its top position in the league. It further widened the gap with second-place Gangwon FC (31 points). Additionally, Seoul continued its unbeaten run of four wins and one draw in its last five matches.

The home team Bucheon attempted a fierce comeback after conceding consecutive goals, with Kim Sang-jun scoring a consolation goal in the 18th minute of the second half, but ultimately failed to equalize.

This defeat ended Bucheon’s four-match unbeaten streak (one win and three draws). Now ranked 10th, Bucheon stands at 4 wins, 7 draws, and 7 losses (19 points).

Coach Kim Ki-dong of Seoul deployed a 4-4-2 formation. Cle Malala and Jo Young-wook started as the twin strikers. Song Min-gyu, who had been substituted in two consecutive matches after a break, was selected to start as the left winger. Goalkeeper Gu Seong-yun, who has recently shown stable performance, also started without change.

Coach Kim Ki-dong of Seoul praised, "Gu Seong-yun played well, making the defensive line feel secure. It seems he is playing comfortably."

Bucheon, led by Coach Lee Young-min, countered with a 3-4-3 formation. Gallego, Park Jeong-in, and Han Ji-ho formed the front three.

In the early stages of the first half, Bucheon's counterattacks were sharp. In the 17th minute, Bucheon launched a quick attack, and Park Jeong-in seized a good opportunity. However, Seoul center-back Yazan engaged in physical contact with him. Although Park fell, the referee did not call a foul. It was a nice play by Yazan.

In the 26th minute of the first half, Gallego took a left-footed shot from a corner kick situation but missed the goal.

However, Seoul claimed the opening goal. The main actor was Jo Young-wook. First, a mid-range shot by Seoul midfielder Babetz was blocked by the opposing defense, but Jo Young-wook, positioned nearby, took another shot and shook the net. Thanks to this, Seoul ended the first half leading 1-0.

In the 9th minute of the second half, Seoul extended its lead with another goal by Jung Seung-won. After intercepting a pass from the opposing defense, Seoul immediately transitioned to attack. Then, Jung Seung-won rushed in to finish off a pass delivered by Cle Malala from the left side of the penalty box.

During this process, Bucheon faced another setback. In an attempt to block Jung Seung-won’s shot, starting goalkeeper Kim Hyung-geun was injured. Unable to stand up, he was carried away on a stretcher. Bucheon substituted in backup goalkeeper Kim Hyun-yup.

Even in difficult circumstances, Bucheon did not give up. They scored a consolation goal to make the score 1-2. In the 18th minute of the second half, during a free-kick situation, Kim Sang-jun headed a cross delivered by Vasani and redirected it into the net.

After that, the atmosphere of the match intensified. Bucheon pushed their defensive line forward in an attempt to score an equalizer. Seoul also did not limit itself to defense; Anderson aimed for another goal with his quick speed and flashy individual skills.

In Bucheon’s case, Gabriel shook the net during stoppage time in the second half, but an offside call was made first, leaving them disappointed. However, Seoul did not miss its opportunity. In the final attacking chance, Cle Malala scored a decisive goal. Ultimately, the match ended with a 3-1 victory for Seoul.

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*This content was translated by AI.