"I want to thank (Gwak) Min-seon."
Jeonbuk Hyundai achieved a 1-0 victory against FC Seoul in the 11th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 away match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, led by a winning goal from Song Min-kyu. With their victory in the 11th round's top big match, the 'Legend Match,' Jeonbuk (24 points) secured their third consecutive win, remaining unbeaten in the league with six games (5 wins, 1 draw), while also closing in on Daejeon Hankook City (26 points), which similarly defeated Anyang FC 2-1 that day.
Moreover, Jeonbuk maintained a good record at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Jeonbuk continued their absolute dominance by extending their unbeaten streak at Seoul World Cup Stadium since 2017. On the other hand, Seoul faces a dire situation, having recorded 2 draws and 3 losses in their last five league matches, raising concerns about their fall into the relegation zone.
Both teams fielded their strongest lineups, demonstrating their determination to win. Seoul first lined up with Jo Young-wook, Kang Sung-jin, Lingard, Lucas, Hwang Do-yoon, Ryu Jae-moon, Choi Jun, Yazan, Kim Joo-sung, Kim Jin-soo, and Kang Hyun-moo in the front line.
Jeonbuk also fielded a strong lineup with Compaño, Song Min-kyu, Jeon Jin-woo, Kim Jin-kyu, Kang Sang-yun, Park Jin-seop, Kim Tae-hyun, Kim Young-bin, Hong Jung-ho, Kim Tae-hwan, and Song Bum-geun. The attacking line composed of the recently high-performing Compaño, Jeon Jin-woo, and Song Min-kyu aimed to maintain a continuous offensive.
Jeonbuk kept the lead with a goal scored in the 23rd minute of the first half. Song Min-kyu connected with a header from a cross delivered by Kim Tae-hwan after a counterattack that blocked Seoul's attack. Kang Hyun-moo attempted to punch it away but failed to block it properly, leading to the opening goal. That day, Jeonbuk maintained the one goal they scored from just 2 shots (1 shot on target) until the end.
Song Min-kyu, who was named the player of the match, said, "It was a great team situation, but personally I felt lacking, so it was a game that helped relieve that burden. I don’t think I should be satisfied yet since it was just my first goal of the season; I will work harder to contribute more to the team."
Song Min-kyu, who showed a ring during the goal celebration, said, "It was a celebration I wanted to share with my girlfriend. We have a wedding planned for winter," adding, "To be precise, I haven’t proposed yet. I plan to do it now. My girlfriend, that is, Ms. Gwak Min-seon, has worked hard, so I’m glad to score this goal and propose during the celebration."
Song Min-kyu noted, "Since the arrival of Coach Po-Yet, the competitive environment has become even stronger. Naturally, it has become normal that there are no players who don’t play. I think it can be said that Jeonbuk has changed in this regard. I believe many situations have arisen where the team can become stronger."
Jeonbuk, which reached the promotion-relegation playoff last season. Song Min-kyu said, "For Jeonbuk, restoring honor is naturally winning the championship. Still, in the current situation, I think it’s more important to discuss winning game by game rather than talking about the championship with my teammates. I feel very thankful."
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