Reporter Lee Lee-jin = Professional soccer’s K League 1 Gangwon FC pulled off an upset to beat leaders Ulsan Hyundai, simultaneously escaping the bottom of the table and a 15-match winless streak.

They smiled against Ulsan for the first time in 11 years.

Gangwon defeated Ulsan 2-0 in the 26th round of the Hana One Q K League 2023 at home at Gangneung Sports Complex on Wednesday.

The victory was significant for Gangwon in many ways.

It was the first win since Yoon Jung-hwan took over as head coach in mid-June, and the first in 105 days since a 1-0 victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai in the 10th round on April 29.

The victory, which ended a 15-match winless streak (seven draws and eight losses), also lifted Gangwon (W20, D11, L12) off the bottom of the table with three points.

Earlier in the day, Suwon Samsung (W19-4 D7 L15) drew with Jeonbuk Hyundai, moving Gangwon up to 11th place.

It was also a monumental victory for the club against their “nemesis” Ulsan, their first in 11 years. It’s even better for Gangwon, who hadn’t won in 11 years with four draws and 21 losses since a 2-1 victory on May 26, 2012.

On the other hand, Ulsan (57-18-1, 3-5-0), which seemed to be cementing its dominance, has faltered with one win, one draw and three losses in its last five matches.

After falling 1-3 to bottom-ranked Suwon on March 15, Ulsan was once again stunned by a lower-ranked team.

Kangwon, who centered their attack around Gabriel and Wellington, fired 11 shots on goal in the first half alone to put pressure on leaders Ulsan.

In the 20th minute, Kim Dae-won’s cross from the right flank was met by Gabriel’s header, but it hit the crossbar and deflected off goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo.

Gangwon threatened the opponent’s goal two minutes later when Gabriel took another shot from the edge of the box, but was denied by back-to-back saves from Cho Hyun-woo.

The hosts finally opened the scoring in the 37th minute.

On the counterattack, Gabriel’s heeled ball was finished by Shin Min-woo, who jumped from the penalty spot to open the Ulsan goal, which was saved by Cho Hyun-woo.

Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo, who was heavily out-shot 2 to 11 in the first half, introduced Lee Cheong-yong and Seol Young-woo at the start of the second half to try to turn things around.

Lee rattled the net with his left foot in the 17th minute of the second half on a ball that came in front of the goal, but the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled that goalkeeper Lee Kwang-yeon was tangled up with Lee Min-gyu and his movement was restricted, so the goal was nullified.

After Gabriel’s header was blocked by Cho Hyun-woo on a free kick in the 31st minute of the second half, Lee Ji-sol looked like he was going to get away with it, but he was ruled offside.

Gangwon continued to counterattack as Ulsan raised their line in desperation and maintained their offense in stoppage time, with Hankyoung and Yago recording shots on target.

Finally, just before the end of the game, Yago drew a foul from Kim Ki-hee as he tried to break through one-on-one, earning a penalty kick.

Yago’s first shot from the spot was blocked by Cho Hyun-woo, but the rebounded ball was finished by Yago to complete the 2-0 victory.

Suwon drew 1-1 away to Jeonbuk.

Jeonbuk (W12 D9 L4 D41), who could have closed in on second-place Pohang Steelers (45 points) with a win, had to settle for a hard-fought point.

Suwon opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Kazuki’s cross from a corner kick was met by Han Ho-gang in front of the opposite goal with a diving header.

It was the first offensive point in the K League for Japanese player Kazuki, who joined Suwon early last month.

After regaining the lead, Jeonbuk took advantage of a scramble in the 20th minute of the second half when Han Gyo-won rattled the net with a right-footed turning shot to level the score.

In the midst of the chaos, Suwon blocked both Jung Tae-wook and Gustavo’s shots, but Han Gyo-won’s final shot was no match for him.카지노

However, after that, Jeonbuk’s defense thickened, and Suwon’s concentration paid off.

The momentum for a comeback was lost when Hong Jeong-ho was sent off for a second bookable offense for trying to stop Basani in stoppage time.