"Soccer is about winning."
On February 2, Jeonbuk Hyundai defeated FC Seoul 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Hana Bank Korea Cup at Seoul World Cup Stadium, advancing to the semifinals thanks to a 42nd-minute opener from Song Min-kyu. Jeonbuk, having advanced to the semifinals, will compete for the championship trophy against FC Gwangju, who beat Ulsan Hyundai 1-0, and Bucheon FC, who defeated Daegu FC 2-1 and Gimpo FC 3-1.
With this victory, Jeonbuk solidifies its lead in the league with 45 points from 21 matches, 10 points ahead of second-place Daejeon Hana (35 points), while also signaling a strong chance for a cup victory, edging closer to a double championship. In contrast, Seoul struggled to maintain the momentum from their previous 4-1 victory over Pohang due to disappointing finishing.
The home team Seoul lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, featuring an attacking trio of Lingard, Dux, and Lucas. In midfield, Jeong Seung-won, Ryu Jae-moon, and Hwang Do-yun were positioned, with a back four of Kim Jin-soo, Yazhan, Kim Joo-sung, and Park Soo-il. The starting goalkeeper was Kang Hyun-moo.
Jeonbuk, on the other hand, opted for a more relaxed approach. They lined up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Jeon Jin-woo, Thiago, and Lee Seung-woo in the attacking front. In midfield, Kang Sang-yoon and Lee Young-jae were placed, while the left wing-backs were Kim Tae-hwan and Kim Tae-hyun. The back three consisted of Kim Young-bin, Park Jin-seop, and Yeon Je-woon. The starting goalkeeper was Kim Jung-hoon.
Unlike Seoul, who built a lineup primarily of starters, Jeonbuk utilized some rotation. They rested key players like Song Min-kyu and Compaño in the attacking front, as well as Kim Jin-kyu in the midfield. Additionally, some players who had not been given many opportunities, such as Yeon Je-woon, Thiago, and Lee Seung-woo, were called to the starting lineup.
Head coach Gus Poyet noted, "I didn’t rotate during our unbeaten run," adding, "The players who sat on the bench were capable enough to play but didn’t get the chance. I am happy to give them the opportunity. I will put aside thoughts of resting and focus only on today’s match."
On that day, Jeonbuk struggled somewhat against the fierce offensive pressure from Seoul. However, second-string goalkeeper Kim Jung-hoon made stunning saves to help them overcome the crisis. Song Min-kyu, who was substituted in the second half, deceived Kang Hyun-moo with sharp concentration during a counterattack situation in the 42nd minute to score the opener, leading to a 1-0 victory.
After the match, the author of the winning goal, Song Min-kyu, said in an interview, "Many fans came to the away game in Seoul, and I am happy to have scored a goal. We set a goal, and it seems the results came out well. It was a tough game, but I think positively about it."
Song Min-kyu, who has scored consecutively against Seoul, said, "There’s nothing like that. Still, it’s a good record. If the opponent focuses on me, it will create good goal-scoring chances for others." He added, "Nonetheless, today I was lucky to get another good chance and was able to finish well, helping the team to victory."
Song Min-kyu remarked, "The coach usually says that winning is important in soccer. We play to win, not to just pass the ball around. Even if it’s tough, we aimed to hold on defensively and wait for opportunities. Thankfully, that waiting led to a goal, and we were able to win."
This season, Jeonbuk is in a position to aim for a double. Song Min-kyu stated, "We are moving towards the same goal as coach Poyet. The goals set by the coach align with our aspirations. He emphasizes defense over attack to the forwards. If you’re not Neymar or Lionel Messi, defense comes first." He elaborated, "Ultimately, our team's core is defense. The physical trainer keeps us engaged with regular weight training. We’ve done well with physical training since we played too many matches in preseason."
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