"At that moment, the players flipped the switch": The 'comeback drama' of Incheon's Final A qualification began before the match even started [On-site in Incheon]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"No one said it out loud, but I feel like something was boiling inside us from that point on."

Incheon United captain Lee Myung-ju said with a smile. He spoke to reporters immediately after the 3-1 victory over Jeju SK in Round 33 of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 season, held at the Incheon Football Stadium on the 24th. On this day, Incheon defeated Jeju to dramatically secure a last-minute spot in the Final A group (upper split). Lee Myung-ju also contributed to the team's win by scoring a crucial opening goal.

The victory carried special significance. It was the final match of the regular season, and for Incheon, it was a game they absolutely had to win. Only then could they overtake Jeju and head to Final A in a dramatic fashion. Manager Yoon Jung-hwan even confessed that he had never directed a "decisive match" of this magnitude before. The pressure on the team heading into the game must have been immense.

There was a "point" that helped relieve the team's burden and, instead, boosted their concentration to the maximum. It was the so-called "bus welcome" cheering, where hundreds of fans gathered before the match to greet the team. To support the players ahead of an important battle, Incheon fans sang anthems and chanted slogans from the point where the club bus entered the stadium grounds. The singing and chanting spread outside the stadium long before the bus arrived, and echoed louder than ever as the bus carrying the players headed toward the stadium entrance. Before the match even began, Incheon's players already had a solid support system on their backs, not on the pitch, but outside the stadium.

Lee Myung-ju expressed that "the players seem to have flipped some kind of switch from that moment (the bus welcome cheering)." This means that the fans' bus welcome significantly raised the players' focus. He added, "I feel like something was boiling inside everyone. Even I thought, 'We really must win today.' Thanks to the fans, I think we were able to concentrate even more from the moment we got off the bus." Manager Yoon Jung-hwan also added before the match, "I felt that (the bus welcome cheering) would be a huge boost for the players. As always, it was a grand feeling with something resonating in our hearts, so I was grateful."

In fact, Incheon dominated Jeju from the early stages of the match. With a first-half ball possession rate of as high as 73%, they also led significantly in shots on goal, 11-2. Even considering the special situation where they had to win at all costs, they showed high concentration from the process of finding gaps in the opponent's defensive setup. Jeju Manager Sergio Costa even admitted after the match that "Incheon played better in the first half."

Although they failed to break the deadlock in the first half, Lee Myung-ju's opening goal in the 14th minute of the second half finally made Final A come into view. After gaining a numerical advantage due to an opponent's red card, they briefly wavered after allowing a fantastic free-kick goal against Negueba, but then consecutive goals by Lee Dong-ryul and Lee Chung-yong secured a final 3-1 victory for Incheon. It was a truly dramatic moment heading toward Final A in the last match of the regular season.

Lee Myung-ju smiled and said, "I am so happy that we were able to advance to the upper split (Final A), which was our goal before the season started." He continued, "For a week, all Incheon fans, players, coaches, and every member of the organization must have desperately wanted today's victory. It feels great and I am happy that it led to this result."

Manager Yoon Jung-hwan said with a smile, "I told the players before the match, 'This is a game of my life,' because I have never experienced a match like this Navy Headquarters, so I was very nervous." He added, "Thanks to the support from the supporters, we were able to find strength. I am grateful that many fans cheered for us before the match, and I also want to convey congratulations to the fans."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original