Promoted professional soccer team Gwangju FC extended its unbeaten streak to nine games with a victory over this season’s top team, Ulsan Hyundai.
Gwangju defeated Ulsan 2-0 in the 29th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at Munsu Stadium in Ulsan on Wednesday. It was the first win over Ulsan in eight years, since a 1-0 victory in July 2015.
With their 12th win of the season (9 draws, 8 losses), Gwangju increased their season tally to 45 points. The 12 wins are also the most in the top flight since the club’s inception. Gwangju secured third place after Jeonbuk Hyundai held them to a 0-0 draw away at Jeju United.
Ulsan, on the other hand, has faltered with just one win in its last five games, leaving them with 19 points (four draws and seven defeats) and a chance to reach the 20-point mark. Their season tally remained flat at 61 points. The gap to second-place Pohang (53 points) narrowed to eight points.
Gwangju opened the scoring in the 17th minute, signaling the beginning of their rebellion. A loose ball in a chaotic situation in front of the opponent’s goal was collected by Lee Kun-hee, who rushed forward and finished with a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo.
Ulsan brought on Uhm Won-sang in place of Lee Dong-kyung at the start of the second half to push forward in attack, but it was Gwangju who had the better chances. In the ninth minute of the second half, after Lee Hee-gyun’s mid-range shot deflected off a defender, Beka connected with a surprise right-footed return shot to rattle the Ulsan net once again.
Hong’s side then tried to find a way back into the match by bringing on Lee In-jong-kyu, Lee Chung-yong, Bojanic, and Kim Tae-hwan, but were unable to break through Gwangju’s defense, which remained solid with midfielder Lee Soon-min at the center.
After the game, Gwangju head coach Lee Jung-hyo said, “I’m proud of my players for fighting for the goal and giving it their all,” adding, “They’re doing a good job, so I just need to do a good job. We stayed up all night to prepare (to beat Ulsan).”
“Our preconceived notions are being broken step by step,” said Lee Sun-min, who led Gwangju to victory in the center of the field, “and it makes us think that we can climb higher and dream more.”
Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo said, “Recently, I can’t feel the responsibility and cohesion in our team games. Even if we have excellent individual abilities, it’s difficult if we don’t move as a team,” he said.
Meanwhile, the match between Jeju and Jeonbuk at Jeju World Cup Stadium ended in a goalless 0-0 draw. With just one more point, Jeonbuk sits in fifth place with the same number of points (43) as fourth-place Seoul, but with less goal difference. Home team Jeju remained in ninth place with 35 points. The gap to eighth-place Daejeon (37 points) is two points 소닉카지노.