With the starting goalkeeper sidelined, Bucheon's goal remained solid... A dramatic turnaround from 'backup to 21st Round Best XI', Kim Hyun-yeop vows: "I will do my part to help the team stay in the league"

*This content was translated by AI.

In K-League 1, BucheonFC kept its goal from being easily breached despite the loss of its starting goalkeeper. This is because backup goalkeeper Kim Hyun-yeop (25), who suddenly got his chance, has delivered performances exceeding expectations and reliably filling the void.

Bucheon suffered a major setback in its home match against FC Seoul on the 19th of last month. Starting goalkeeper Kim Hyung-geun sustained a side injury after colliding with an opposing player while attempting to block a shot. Substituted out at the time, Kim Hyung-geun was subsequently placed on the injured list, and his expected absence period has become longer than anticipated.

Bucheon head coach Lee Young-min explained ahead of the match against GangwonFC on the 1st: "When we first had him examined at the hospital, we judged it wasn't a serious injury. However, he continues to feel pain in the injured area," adding, "It seems Kim Hyung-geun will need more rest before he can return."

Kim Hyung-geun has been Bucheon's reliable starting goalkeeper this season. In a home match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in May, he delivered what was described as a "career-defining game" by keeping 26 opposing shots out for a scoreless result. His injury and absence could have dealt a significant blow to Bucheon.

However, contrary to concerns, Bucheon has held its ground over the past three matches without Kim Hyung-geun, recording one win, one draw, and one loss. Although it narrowly lost 2-3 to FC Anyang after a hard-fought battle, it drew 1-1 with Incheon United and followed that with a decisive 3-0 away victory against Gangwon.

At the center of this resilience was Kim Hyun-yeop, who stepped in to fill Kim Hyung-geun's absence.

Kim Hyun-yeop made his professional debut while Bucheon was in K-League 2 during the 2024 season. He appeared in three league matches during his debut season and played one match last year. It is true that he has not had many opportunities to prove his value.

But this year is different. Due to Kim Hyung-geun's injury, he suddenly received playing time, and Kim Hyun-yeop has seized the opportunity, steadily building his presence. So far this season, Kim Hyun-yeop has already started in seven league matches.

In particular, the previous match against Gangwon was impressive. Although he briefly created a crisis by committing one critical error, he did not crumble. He then made several key saves to keep the scoreless result until the end, contributing to Bucheon's 3-0 victory.

Recognized for his performance, Kim Hyun-yeop earned a spot in the K-League 1 21st Round Best XI, which is composed of players who delivered the best performances by position.

In an interview with StarNews, Kim Hyun-yeop honestly shared: "(Kim) Hyung-geun has been absent, and I am working hard to ensure I do not harm the team in his absence. However, it hasn't been as easy as I thought, and for a while my confidence dropped significantly."

He continued, "Thanks to head coach Lee Young-min, the coaching staff, and my teammates who offered encouraging words and support from beside me, I am gradually regaining my confidence," adding, "I intend to approach matches with even more confidence."

Even after being selected for the Best XI, Kim Hyun-yeop credited his teammates rather than himself.

He emphasized, "I do not consider this as a result I created on my own," noting, "Thanks to my teammates, including the defenders, who did not hold back and defended well in front of me, I was able to make it onto the list."

Kim Hyun-yeop's focus now shifts from individual performance to Bucheon's survival in K-League 1. He stated, "Moving forward, I will not be satisfied with the current level and will do my part in every match to help the team win," adding, "I will show even better performances to ensure the team definitely stays in K-League 1."

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*This content was translated by AI.