Jeonbuk Hyundai defeated Gimcheon Sangmu to solidify its lead.
Jeonbuk beat Gimcheon 2-1 in the 21st round of 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025' held at Gimcheon Stadium on the 27th, which was helped by Compagno's multi-goal in the second half. His unbeaten streak, which started in the fifth round (2-2 draws) against Pohang in March, has increased to 17 games (12 wins and 5 draws). Jeonbuk's 17 consecutive league games have been undefeated for the first time in six years since May-September 2019, when it recorded 18 consecutive games. Italian striker Compagno stood tall as the winning hero, scoring his seventh and eighth goals of the season.
Jeonbuk, which had 13 wins, six draws and two losses and 45 points, widened the gap between the second-place Daejeon (35 points) by two more points from eight points to 10 points. At the same time, Daejeon drew 1-1 against Jeju at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in its home stadium, and was mired in a winless (4 draws and 1 loss) for five consecutive games.
Jeonbuk coach Gus Foye set up a three-top with Jeon Jin-woo, Compagno, and Song Min-gyu. Kang Sang-yoon, Park Jin-seop and Kim Jin-kyu built the midfield, and Choi Chul-soon, Hong Jung-ho, Kim Young-bin, and Kim Tae-hyun formed the four-back. Song Bum-keun wore goalkeeper gloves. Choi Chul-soon was included in the entry for the first time in four months since the game against Gimcheon in February. In Gimcheon, Yoo Kang-hyun took over as the one-top and Kim Seung-seop, Lee Dong-kyung, Lee Seung-won, Maeng Sung-woong, Jeon Byeong-gwan built the midfield. Oh In-pyo, Kim Kang-san, Park Chan-yong and Park Dae-won lined up in the defense, and Lee Ju-hyun defended the goal.
It was Jeonbuk's pace from the first half. In the fourth minute, Song Min-gyu's shot in front of the goal was shot by Lee Joo-hyun. In the 9th minute of the game, Hong Jung-ho's shot went off the goal. Song Min-gyu's steps were light. In the 12th minute, Compagno took the ball that Song Min-gyu stabbed into the back space of the defense and attempted a left-footed shot, but he hit the crossbar. 19 min Song Min-gyu connected the pass to Kim Jin-kyu, who is outside the box this time. Kim Jin-kyu's mid-range shot, which caught the ball, went off the post.
Jeonbuk, which had been tapping, eventually scored the first goal. In the 36th minute, Jeon Jin-woo poked a lobbing pass into the penalty box. Compagno, who received the ball with his back to the defense, opened the goal with a sensational right-footed turning shot. The scene where the Gimcheon defense, including Park Dae-won, was disappointed in the passive response. The first half ended with Jeonbuk leading by one goal.
Jeonbuk ran away with an additional goal in the eighth minute of the second half. Jeon Jin-woo, who received a long pass from the opponent's right point, immediately entered the box and swung his right foot. The ball that left Jeon Jin-woo's foot was blocked by Lee Ju-hyun's good defense, but Compagno calmly pushed the ball out. Gimcheon had a hard time finishing in the 24th minute of the second half, with Park Sang-hyuk's header shaking the side net. Jeonbuk replaced all of its strikers in the 32nd minute of the second half. Compagno, Jeon Jin-woo and Song Min-gyu retreated to the bench, Thiago, Lee Seung-woo and Kwon Chang-hoon were put in.
Gimcheon followed a goal in the 33rd minute of the second half. Won Ki-jong scored a non-stop shot at the door with the ball that Kim Kyung-joon, who replaced, stabbed from the right. In the 44th minute of the second half, Kim Kyung-joon's shot slightly off the post. The game ended with Jeonbuk's 2-1 victory. Gimcheon's unbeaten run ended in four games.
Daejeon's game was twisted from the first half. In the 27th minute, Daejeon striker Gutek was sent off directly for a decision that he elbowed in the face in a competition with Jeju defender Song Ju-hoon. In the 40th minute, Daejeon Jung Jae-hee's left foot shot deflected off the defender's leg and went out of the goal line. Jeju knocked on the goal with a consecutive header from Oh Jae-hyuk's departure at the end of the first half, but it was ineffective.
On the side that had the numerical advantage, Jeju put in Yuri Jonatan and Shin Sang-eun in the second half to take the lead in the attack. Daejeon also confronted Hernandez and Kim Jun-beom. Jeju didn't take the lead easily in the second half either. Rather, he gave up chances to the match again and again. Martha, Jung Jae-hee, and Kim Bong-soo threatened the goal in a row. Daejeon manager Hwang Sun-hong drove even harder in the 17th minute of the second half, putting in Joo Min-gyu. In the 16th minute of the second half, Martha and Joo Min-kyu's shot in the 18th minute was blocked by Jeju goalkeeper Kim Dong-joon. Afterwards, he gave Jeju the lead, but there was no sign of opening the goal guarded by Lee Chang-geun. In the 29th minute of the second half, Lee Chang-min touched the right cross with his foot in front of the goal, but it went over the net.
Opportunity came after the crisis. In the 33rd minute of the second half, Jung Jae-hee's right foot shot from outside the box hit the defensive foot and soared high above the goalkeeper's head to reach the net. Jung Jae-hee, who scored his debut goal in Daejeon against Jeju in March, repaid Hwang's trust by scoring his second goal in his first start game since joining Daejeon. Five minutes of extra time in the second half, when Daejeon was certain to win, a major reversal took place. Jeju launched its last attack in a chaotic atmosphere, with head coach Hwang Sun-hong receiving a warning. Nam Tae-hee penetrated to the right in the penalty area and the ball hit the net as it was aimed at the lower right of the goal. A scene that gives a glimpse of Nam Tae-hee's genius. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Jeju, ranked 10th, managed to escape its second straight loss.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
