A match that would have been lost in the past is now secured... 'Coach Kim Ki-dong acknowledges ': Seoul has changed.

*This content was translated by AI.

This could have been a match lost in the past. But this season, FC Seoul is different. Having overcome multiple critical moments and steadily accumulating points, they are now comfortably leading the race for first place.

Under manager Kim Ki-dong, Seoul secured a 3-1 victory over BucheonFC in an away match of the 18th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 at Bucheon Stadium on the 19th.

With this win, Seoul improved to 12 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses (39 points), further solidifying their position at the top of the league. The gap between them and second-place Gangwon FC (31 points) has widened to eight points. In their last five matches, they recorded four wins and one draw, continuing their upward momentum.

Judging by the final score alone, Seoul's victory appeared comfortable. However, the actual flow of the match was different.

After taking a 2-0 lead, Seoul faced Bucheon's fierce counterattacks. They conceded a consolation goal to Kim Sang-jun in the 18th minute of the second half and were constantly under threat. In stoppage time, Bucheon attacker Gabriel shook the net, but fortunately for Seoul, an offside call was made.

Seoul managed to withstand Bucheon's onslaught before sealing the victory with a decisive goal by Clemyla in stoppage time.

Coach Kim acknowledged that it was not an easy match. He even described it as "the most tense game of the year." Although they were shaken by unexpected developments, Seoul ultimately secured their target of three points.

Seoul players also understood the importance of the Bucheon match. Goalkeeper Gu Seong-yun said, "The players knew that we had to win this game to climb higher and create a gap with teams in second and third place. That's why we ended up with a 3-1 victory."

Gu Seong-yun also explained, "When the match was paused, the players kept discussing 'what should we do?' We frequently gathered during the Bucheon game to talk things through. It wasn't just me; the entire defensive line tried not to get excited even in crisis situations. We worked hard to quickly shift the atmosphere, which helped lead to the third goal. The players handled it well."

This season, Seoul has shown this kind of resilience multiple times. They don't just win with overwhelming performances; they also find ways to secure points on days when things don't go as planned. They have transformed into a team that doesn't crumble under pressure but instead creates results in difficult situations.

Coach Kim acknowledged these changes. After the Bucheon victory, he reflected on past experiences: "While I've been with Seoul, there were matches we had to win but failed to secure. There were many times when we failed in games where a win would have propelled us forward."

He continued, "Even this time, we were fine while leading 2-0. But as Bucheon pushed hard afterward, we became flustered and worried. Still, the players who came on as substitutes quickly changed the atmosphere, which was key to our victory."

The Bucheon match wasn't an isolated incident. In their previous home game against Gangwon, Seoul drew 0-0. Gangwon recorded twice as many shots as Seoul and even created a decisive one-on-one opportunity between an attacker and the goalkeeper in the final moments of the second half.

However, thanks to Gu Seong-yun's spectacular saves and the defensive line's focus, Seoul prevented any goals. Although they couldn't secure a win, earning one point was meaningful as it maintained their gap over second-place Gangwon.

The match against Incheon United on the 5th was similar. Seoul struggled to open up the opponent's goal but secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Jeong Seung-won's dramatic late winner in the 36th minute of the second half.

These hard-fought points have been accumulating one by one, propelling Seoul to the top of the league. The Bucheon match was no exception; although their performance wasn't perfect, Seoul was the team that ultimately came out on top.

Coach Kim said, "I want to praise the players for creating a game where they can move forward with renewed energy. Our guardians also came in greater numbers than Bucheon fans to support us, which was a huge boost." He expressed his gratitude.

Past failures haven't left only bitter memories. The experience of failing to overcome critical moments at key times has actually made the current Seoul even stronger.

Even while leading the league with overwhelming dominance this season, Coach Kim warned against complacency.

He emphasized, "Every single match matters. When you start thinking 'it's okay now' about concerns you had, things become difficult. You must perform well in every game." He repeatedly stressed this point.

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*This content was translated by AI.