"The players' winning mentality has greatly improved."
Jeonbuk Hyundai achieved a 1-0 victory over FC Seoul in the 11th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 away match on the 3rd at Seoul World Cup Stadium, powered by Song Min-kyu's decisive goal. With this win in the 11th round's top big match, the 'Legend Match,' Jeonbuk (24 points) is on a three-match winning streak, remaining unbeaten in the last six league matches (5 wins, 1 draw) and is closely chasing Daejeon Hana Citizen (26 points), which also won 2-1 against Anyang FC that day.
Additionally, Jeonbuk maintained a good record at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Jeonbuk has continued its record of not losing at Seoul's home ground since 2017, maintaining an absolute advantage. Meanwhile, Seoul, with 2 draws and 3 losses in its last five league matches, has fallen into a worst streak, raising concerns about relegation.
Both teams fielded their best lineups, showcasing their determination to win. Seoul started with Jo Young-wook, Kang Seong-jin, Lingard, Lucas, Hwang Do-yun, Ryu Jae-moon, Choi Jun, Yazan, Kim Joo-sung, Kim Jin-su, and Kang Hyun-moo in the frontline.
Jeonbuk also lined up with its top players: Compañó, Song Min-kyu, Jeon Jin-woo, Kim Jin-kyu, Kang Sang-yun, Park Jin-seop, Kim Tae-hyun, Kim Young-bin, Hong Jeong-ho, Kim Tae-hwan, and Song Bum-keun. This lineup, centered around the attack formed by the recently in-form Compañó, Jeon Jin-woo, and Song Min-kyu, aimed to continue the offensive.
Jeonbuk held onto the goal scored in the 23rd minute until the end. After blocking Seoul's attack, a counterattack from Jeonbuk saw Kim Tae-hwan deliver a cross that Song Min-kyu connected with a header. Kang Hyun-moo tried to punch it away but failed to stop it properly, leading to the opening goal. On that day, Jeonbuk only attempted 2 shots (with 1 on target) but secured a victory with that single goal.
After achieving three consecutive wins and closely chasing the leader Daejeon, head coach Gus Poyet noted in a post-match interview, "It seems we showed a proper football match. I appreciate the support from the fans of both teams. The final crosses and shots were all impressive, and I want to express my gratitude to the players."
He continued, "I anticipated Seoul would launch fierce attacks after the opening goal, so I adjusted our tactics accordingly. It would have been nicer if Kang Sang-yun's second goal had been granted, but we managed to hold on to our lead until the end to secure victory." He added, "Song Bum-keun's saves were a significant help. In football, strikers assist a lot, but the goalkeeper supports the team. It seems Song Bum-keun truly kept the game secure."
Regarding the winning DNA, Coach Poyet stated, "The winning mentality has greatly improved, allowing us to play the game more easily. We need to take pride in our focus and attitude in defense, especially after winning a difficult match. The players comprehended this football and executed it well on the field, which was very effective."
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