'Anyang breaks Gangwon's 10-game unbeaten streak' Anyang wins 2-1, closing the gap to second-place Jeonbuk by just three points... 'Surprise' return to fifth place [Anyang On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The race for second place is now within reach. FC Anyang ignited a battle for the top spots by defeating powerhouse Gangwon FC at home.

Anyang secured a 2-1 victory over Gangwon in the Hana Bank K-League 1 2026 Round 20 match held at Anyang Stadium on the 26th at 7:30 p.m.

With two wins and two draws in their last four matches, Anyang moved back to fifth place with 30 points (7 wins, 9 draws, 4 losses). They are now just three points behind second-place Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (20 matches, 33 points), closing the gap rapidly.

Gangwon, who had been on a nine-game unbeaten run, suffered their first defeat in ten matches and remained in third place with 32 points (8 wins, 8 draws, 4 losses).

Home side Anyang lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. The front three consisted of Choi Geon-joo, El Kurano, and Yukiichi. The midfield was anchored by Kim Jeong-hyun, Mateus, and Knezevic, while the defensive line featured Kim Dong-jin, Kwon Kyung-won, Lee Chang-yong, and Kang Ji-hoon. Goalkeeper Jung Hoon took his place in goal.

Visiting team Gangwon responded with a 4-3-3 formation. The attacking trio included Kim Dae-won, Kim Geon-hee, and Choi Byung-chan. Midfield duties were handled by Ko Young-jun, Seo Min-woo, and Lee Yu-hyun. The defensive line was composed of Song Jun-seok, Lee Gi-hyeok, Shin Min-ha, and Kang Jun-hyuk, with Park Cheong-hyo guarding the goal.

Anyang took control just three minutes into the match by scoring the opening goal. Yukiichi delivered a precise heel pass that caught Gangwon's defense off guard. Choi Geon-joo received the ball in front of the goal, beat the opposing goalkeeper, and fired a left-footed shot into the net.

After conceding the first goal, Gangwon shifted to an all-out attack. In contrast, Anyang relied on a solid defense and countered with a strategy focused on absorbing pressure before launching quick counterattacks.

In the 31st minute of the first half, it seemed Gangwon had equalized. Shin Min-ha headed in a goal, but after video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was disallowed. Referee Kim Jong-hyeok explained that a goalkeeper charging foul occurred in front of the goal before the score.

With Gangwon reeling from the disallowed equalizer, Anyang regained momentum. In the 36th minute of the first half, Yukiichi delivered a high cross from a free-kick situation, which El Kurano connected with a powerful header to extend their lead.

Twelve minutes of stoppage time were added to the first half. Anyang held onto their two-goal advantage and finished the first half ahead.

There was little change in the flow of the match. In the 8th minute of the second half, Gangwon substituted Kim Geon-hee for Abdullah in an attempt to score. Eighteen minutes into the second half, Anyang brought on Blaze for Choi Geon-joo.

Gangwon struggled against Anyang's compact defense. Although they managed to connect passes from midfield to the wings, their attacks were repeatedly blocked by physical defending in front of the goal.

In the 25th minute of the second half, Gangwon made three simultaneous substitutions to change the game's momentum. Jesse, Lee Seung-won, and Hong Cheol entered the field, while Song Jun-seok, Seo Min-woo, and Choi Byung-chan were substituted off.

While maintaining a clean sheet, Anyang brought on Kim Jae-hyun, Moon Sung-woo, and Choi Gyu-hyun in the 32nd minute of the second half, focusing on adding more defenders to withstand Gangwon's relentless attacks.

In critical moments, the goalkeeper's saves proved decisive. In the 40th minute of the second half, Jung Hoon tipped away a header from Lee Gi-hyeok during a corner kick with his fingertips. In the 45th minute, Anyang reinforced their defense by bringing on central defender Kim Young-chan and substituting off Kim Dong-jin.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added to the second half. One minute before the final whistle, Abdullah scored for Gangwon by pushing in a cross from Kim Dae-won, narrowing the deficit to one goal.

No further goals followed. Anyang held on for a one-goal victory, securing three points and re-entering the race for the top spots.

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*This content was translated by AI.