Professional soccer’s K League One Jeonbuk Hyundai earned its first win of the season in the ‘Hyundai Derby’ against Ulsan HD, signaling a move away from the relegation zone.
Jeonbuk defeated Ulsan 2-0 in the 24th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Tuesday, led by a brilliant performance from new signing Andrigo, who scored one goal and provided one assist.
Jeonbuk, which had been struggling so badly that it was in the relegation zone, turned things around with its first win of the season over rival Ulsan.
It’s the first time Jeonbuk has beaten Ulsan in seven league games since June of last year.
Jeonbuk closed the gap on Ulsan with 42 wins, 30 draws, and 43 losses in the all-time derby record.
The win also erased the sting of a shocking 0-4 loss to Gimcheon Commerce in the previous round.
Jeonbuk, which recorded its first home winning streak of the season, moved up one spot to 10th place (23 points).
Ulsan, whose head coach Hong Myung-bo was replaced amid controversy, suffered its first loss under acting coach Lee Kyung-soo.
Ulsan remained in second place with 42 points.
Jeonbuk attacked Ulsan’s camp with enthusiasm with speedy flankers such as Jeon Byung-gwan on the left and new signing Jeon Jin-woo on the right, but lacked the intensity to break through Ulsan’s defense, which played a more settled game.
The closest they came to a goal in the first half was in the 14th minute, when Kim Jin-soo’s diagonal cross from the left was met by Thiago’s header into the arms of goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo.
Unable to capitalize, both teams made changes up front at the start of the second half.
Jeonbuk sent Hernandez up the field in place of Jeon Byung-kwan to add more pace, while Ulsan brought in summer signing Yago to play up top alongside starter Lee Min-gyu.
In the 16th minute of the second half, Andrigo came on for Jeon Jin-woo in the final minutes of Jeonbuk’s victory.
Andrigo made a shrewd move down the right side in the 33rd minute and sent in a low cross that Thiago finished with a diving header for the winner.
Thiago has been on fire, finding the back of the net in five of his last six games.
Andrigo sealed the win for Jeonbuk in the 52nd minute with a thunderous right-footed strike that rattled the Ulsan net.
Andrigo, who played for K League 2 (2nd Division) FC Anyang until last season before moving to Chengdu Luneng (China) and joining Jeonbuk on loan this summer, scored his first goal and first assist in the K League 1 in one fell swoop, raising expectations for his second half performance.
‘Legend’ Eningyo, who scored 79 goals and provided 63 assists in 205 games for Jeonbuk, came to Jeonju and gave the juniors a victorious start. 안전놀이터