Proof of a nemesis! Bucheon strikes again against Jeonbuk... A thrilling 3-2 victory after leading 3-0, while also fending off the intense chase in the standings [Bucheon On-Site Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

It seems this cannot be mere luck. K League 1 club BucheonFC has once again defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, proving their status as a nemesis.

On the 16th, Bucheon overturned expectations with a thrilling 3-2 victory in their home match against Jeonbuk in Round 23 of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 at Bucheon Stadium.

With this result, Bucheon extended its unbeaten run over four matches to two wins and two draws. Adding another win brought their record to six wins, nine draws, and eight losses, propelling them from 11th place with 27 points to 9th in the league standings.

Meanwhile, fourth-place Jeonbuk fell to nine wins, seven draws, and seven losses (34 points). After a recent three-match winless streak (one draw, two losses) and following a 1-3 away defeat to Jeju SK, they have now suffered back-to-back losses.

Bucheon continues to hold the upper hand in this matchup. While Jeonbuk is expected to dominate based on league standings and team strength, Bucheon has consistently shown unbelievable power whenever facing Jeonbuk. Including this victory, Bucheon has recorded three wins and two draws in five matches against Jeonbuk.

Head coach Lee Young-min changed his approach today. Against the strong Jeonbuk side, he decided to prioritize attack over defensive operations despite taking hits. Before the match, Coach Lee stated, "When playing against a good team like Jeonbuk, the line naturally tends to drop," but added, "We are thinking more offensively than defensively. If we take one extra step forward, it will likely become a game where we possess the ball more."

He further added, "Since Jeonbuk is so strong, I think the players adjusted their mindset differently."

Bucheon lined up in a 3-4-3 formation. 'New signing' Gustavo played as the lone striker, supported by Galego and Vasani forming a front three. An Tae-hyun and Tiaginho covered the left and right flanks. Kim Jong-woo and Sung Ye-geon orchestrated the midfield, while Hong Seong-wook, Baek Dong-gyu, and Patrick formed the back three. Goalkeeper Kim Hyun-yup guarded the net.

Jeonbuk, under head coach Jeong Jeong-yong, countered with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Mota started as the forward. In the second line, Lee Seung-woo, Kim Ye-geon, and Lee Dong-jun were deployed to support the attack. Kim Jin-gyu and Maeng Sung-woong handled central midfield duties. The back four consisted of Choi Woo-jin, Kim Young-bin, Jo Wi-je, and Kim Tae-hwan, with Song Beom-keun in goal. '18-year-old prodigy' Kim Ye-geon earned his first professional start.

Kickoff. Coach Lee Young-min's strategy paid off. Bucheon, taking an aggressive approach, pushed their opponents from the start and soon scored. The scorer was Bucheon midfielder Sung Ye-geon. In the eighth minute of the first half, Galego delivered a pass ahead of the opposing defense, which Sung Ye-geon chased down and shot into the net.

Sung Ye-geon, who attended Kyunghee High School and Hannam University, is a new addition to Bucheon this summer. Earlier, Coach Lee explained about Sung Ye-geon: "He is a player with great energy. Honestly, I was initially hesitant about putting him directly into the match. While he showed potential, there can be differences between training and actual games."

Nevertheless, Coach Lee praised him, saying, "Every time he steps onto the field, he shows a high energy level. He is exactly the player this team needs. His teammates seem to benefit from his play. Although he is still a rookie, I really want to commend him," giving him a thumbs-up.

Sung Ye-geon scored his professional debut goal in an away match against Gangwon FC on the 1st. In today's game, he once again proved his value.

Bucheon maintained their momentum. In the 14th minute of the first half, an additional goal by Kim Jong-woo was scored. Bucheon dismantled Jeonbuk's defense in an instant with spectacular passing play. In the ensuing counterattack, veteran Kim Jong-woo calmly struck a long-range shot to seal the score. With this goal, Bucheon reached their club record of 900 total goals.

Bucheon continued their attack, with Tiaginho attempting a shot in the 21st minute and Galego trying a left-footed shot in the 24th minute of the first half. Goalkeeper Kim Hyun-yup also fulfilled his duties by stopping a long-range shot from Kim Jin-gyu in the 25th minute.

In stoppage time of the first half, Vasani's killer pass stood out. A single through ball from behind the half-line created a decisive chance. However, Galego's pass from the left flank did not reach Gustavo. Vasani's subsequent shot also went wide of the goal. Jeonbuk also swallowed their regret as Kim Jin-gyu's sharp free-kick shot missed just before the end of the first half.

Jeonbuk made a defensive change by substituting Park Ji-soo for Choi Woo-jin immediately after the second half began.

Nevertheless, Bucheon controlled the match. In the 7th minute of the second half, Gustavo's header from a corner kick went over the crossbar. In the 10th minute, Galego calmly scored in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. The initial call was offside, but after video assistant referee (VAR) review, Galego's goal was confirmed.

Bucheon fans cheered as well. Even with much time remaining, overturning a three-goal deficit is not easy.

However, Jeonbuk did not give up. They engaged in a 'crazy chase battle' until the final moments of the match. In the 14th minute of the second half, fullback Choi Woo-jin scored a consolation goal with a powerful left-footed shot.

Jeonbuk immediately brought on Compagno and Italo to change the game's dynamics. In the 34th minute of the second half, substitute Park Ji-soo scored a chasing goal. The score became 2-3, leading both teams into a nail-biting contest that left spectators holding their breath.

There was also a chance for an equalizer. In a counterattack, Italo drew a foul from Patrick after a stormy dribble. The referee initially awarded a penalty kick but corrected it to a free kick after checking VAR. Lee Young-jae's free-kick shot struck the crossbar.

Even afterward, Jeonbuk relentlessly pushed Bucheon in search of an equalizer. However, Bucheon managed to hold onto their one-goal lead and once again defeated the difficult opponent Jeonbuk at home.

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*This content was translated by AI.