From the lowest ranking to the first sub-split (final B), Jeonbuk Hyundai, which is experiencing its worst season, has been agonizing over “collapsed defense.” The team is disgraced as being the team with 49 goals lost in 31 games and the most lost in the K League 1.
Jeonbuk, however, has allowed just 49 runs over the past month. This is due to its scoreless matches in the last four consecutive games. Still, the fact that the team lost the most points means that its defense has completely collapsed throughout the season, and that it has achieved a dramatic turnaround in recent months.
Under coach Kim Doo-hyun, the defensive organization seems to be fully established. Recently, the lines of Kim Tae-hyun, Hong Jeong-ho, Park Jin-seop, and Ahn Hyun-beom have been maintained without much change in Jeonbuk’s defense. Veteran Han Kook-young is at the center of the team in the previous round, while Kim Joon-hong, who recently joined the national team, is firmly guarding the goal. Compared to the large changes in the lineup throughout the season, he has now regained stability. Coach Kim also said, “I think it has become clear in the players’ minds how to defend.”
As the team’s defense has been on a stable trajectory, the team’s mood has been elevated. It has had no loss (three wins and two draws) in five consecutive games, including two wins and two draws in the recent four games, in which no point was given. Still in the ranking, the team is ranking 10th (34 points), which is in the relegation zone, but is four points behind Jeju United in eighth place and six points behind Gwangju FC in seventh place. If the team continues its upward trajectory, it can also seek to remain in the stable zone. Considering that it once fell to the bottom of the team during the season, it is a meaningful rebound.
Despite the upturn, Jeonbuk still has some concerns. It needs a goal to secure three points. It is regrettable for Jeonbuk that it ended two of the last three games with a 0-0 draw. Considering that the teams were on a steep rise, including FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen, Jeonbuk itself failed to take advantage of many situations.
As the 6-0 victory over Suwon FC suggests, Jeonbuk players are not inferior to any other team in terms of their performance. It is regrettable that Song Min-gyu left, but Jeonbuk’s strength is that there are many proven offensive resources such as Lee Seung-woo, Thiago and Hernandez. Just as the defense that collapsed has stabilized, the task is to find a clear scoring route now. 안전놀이터
Jeonbuk will hold two consecutive matches against Jeju United on Friday and Daegu FC on March 6. Through five final matches, it will engage in a final race for survival. The remaining seven matches will be played against teams that belong to the Final B. If the team solves its concern about scoring goals amid solid defense these days, it will be able to eliminate concerns about potential demotion that much faster. It is also meaningful in that it is an extension of the Kim Doo-hyun team that will debut in earnest next season.