Despite the departure of nine players including Nam Tae-hee and Kwon Chang-hoon, Jeju is thriving! Seven-game unbeaten run for Jeju; they defeated Jeonbuk to secure a spot in the Final A standings... Coach Costa: "Scoring from all positions is positive"

*This content was translated by AI.

JejuSK has surged sharply since the World Cup break, successfully entering the Final A standings.

In an away match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors held on the 8th in K League 1, JejuSK secured a 3-1 victory led by Negueba's hat-trick. With this win, JejuSK ended its four-year and three-month losing streak at Jeonbuk's home ground since May 2022. Additionally, the team has recorded seven consecutive matches without defeat (three wins, four draws) in the league, climbing to fifth place with eight wins, seven draws, seven losses, and 31 points.

During the summer transfer window, JejuSK faced a major setback as nine key players departed: Kim I-an (retired), Heo Jae-won (Bayern Munich), Kim Geon-woong (Sapporo), Nam Tae-hee (Brisbane Roar), Kim Jun-ha, Oh Jae-hyuk, and Ahn Chan-gi (all to Kim Cheon (SVP)), Kwon Chang-hoon (Persija Jakarta), and Gitis (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, on loan).

However, JejuSK maximized its scoring efficiency after the World Cup break, achieving a turnaround. Before the break, in 15 matches, JejuSK recorded only 12 actual goals against an expected goals (xG) total of 17.36. After the break, in seven matches, the team demonstrated exceptional finishing ability by scoring 11 actual goals from an xG of 6.92.

Balanced performances across the attack have driven the upward trend. Negueba scored three goals, including a penalty kick for the opening goal, in the match against Jeonbuk, achieving his first hat-trick for Jeju in 1,553 days since Joo Min-kyu in May 2022. Negueba currently leads the team with five goals and three assists this season. New foreign striker Ayas also made a smooth start, scoring consecutive goals in recent official matches, including two assists against Jeonbuk.

Securing diverse goal sources and tactical maturity are also cited as key achievements. Under coach Sergio Costa, JejuSK has scored three goals in each of their last three matches, including the Korea Cup, displaying a balanced distribution of goals across all positions, from Negueba and Ayas to Kim Shin-jin, Park Chang-jun, and Tobias.

Coach Sergio Costa stated, "What matters most is that the team is improving with every match, more than just the results." He added, "It is positive that we are scoring from all positions without relying on specific players. Building on the confidence gained from the away victory against Jeonbuk, we will continue to play courageous football until the end."

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*This content was translated by AI.