Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are back!

A sold out stadium for the first time ever and a come from behind 3-1 win to defeat the champions Ulsan HD the story of Round 17!

Picture from Youtube K League Highlights

The record K League winners Jeonbuk have awoken from their slumber with former Premier League player Gustavo Poyet very much the architect behind it. After two testing years for the Jeonju-based club, the fans responded in record numbers, selling out the World Cup Stadium for the first time in the K League. They were treated to an enthralling contest that saw the home team respond to an early setback to run out 3-1 winners, silencing a large Ulsan following and leaving the champions six points off the pace despite having played two more games.

Elsewhere, Jeju SK matched Jeonbuk’s scoreline with the surprise result of the weekend, beating FC Seoul in the capital. Jeju secured back-to-back away wins, having not won any of their previous seven on the road.

Daejeon are now three points behind leaders Jeonbuk after only drawing away to FC Anyang. As Gimcheon Sangmu said goodbye to the old recruits who have done so well over the past 18 months, Suwon FC though spoiled the party with a late Jung Seung-bae equaliser.

Pohang Steelers were the other big winners of the weekend, making it three wins in a row and rising to fourth with games in hand on second and third.

As we approach the halfway stage of the season, things are really hotting up—and over the summer, we’ll find out if Jeonbuk can handle the heat from leading the pack.

Goal of the Round

Matheus Oliveira (FC Anyang)

Anyang’s Brazilian creative outlet continued his hot streak—this time coming off the bench to rescue a point. The number 7 latched onto a loose ball before curling a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner from 25 yards out. His reputation in K League 1 continues to grow, building on the momentum of his K2 Player of the Year award in 2024.

Player of the Round

Yu in-soo (Jeju SK)

Jeju’s left-sided winger/fullback/wingback scored a brace away at FC Seoul to put the cat among the pigeons. A well-timed run through the middle saw Yu latch onto a Nam Tae-hee through ball, showing the kind of composure he has lacked this season to hold off Yazan and lift it over Kang Hyun-mu in the FC Seoul net. He was involved in the second goal as well, leading the charge down the left before shifting the ball inside to Nam Tae-hee, who set up Lee Chang-min for his low drive.

His final decisive moment of the game came at the misfortune of FC Seoul keeper Kang, who slipped and was unable to reach Yu’s tame header. Two goals mean the winter signing has already bettered his previous record for goals in a season, and his all-round display—winning both his tackles and four of five ground duels—shows why he is a favourite of manager Kim Hak-beom.