By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) — Five-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were knocked out of the round of 16 at the top national football tournament Wednesday, as their disappointing season took another frustrating turn.
Jeonbuk, stuck in the relegation zone in the top-flight K League 1, lost to the K League 2 outfit Gimpo FC 1-0 in the round of 16 of the Korea Cup at Gimpo Solteo Football Field in Gimpo, just west of Seoul.
Gimpo’s Brazilian forward Bruno Paraiba scored the match’s lone goal in the fourth minute, and Gimpo kept Jeonbuk off the board the rest of the way.
Gimpo FC players celebrate their 1-0 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the round of 16 of the Korea Cup football tournament at Gimpo Solteo Football Field in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on June 19, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Korea Cup, organized annually by the Korea Football Association (KFA), brings together professional and amateur clubs. The KFA changed the name of the competition from the FA Cup to avoid confusion with the FA Cup in England.
The Korea Cup was first played in 1996, and Jeonbuk are tied with Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Pohang Steelers for most titles with five apiece. Jeonbuk’s most recent title came in 2022.
Jeonbuk have also won the most K League 1 titles with nine, but they have not come close to replicating that form this year.
After 17 out of 38 matches, Jeonbuk are in 11th place, second from the bottom of the table, with 15 points. They hired new head coach Kim Do-heon in May but they have managed one draw and three losses under their new boss.
Ulsan HD FC goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho celebrates after a 3-0 penalty shootout win over Gyeongnam FC in the round of 16 of the Korea Cup football tournament at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 19, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Six of the eight matches played on Wednesday went to penalties.
Ulsan HD FC, two-time reigning K League 1 champions, defeated Gyeongnam FC of the K League 2 by 3-0 on penalties. The teams were knotted at 3-3 and then traded a goal apiece in extra time, before reserve goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho came through with big stops in the shootout.
There were three matches between K League 1 clubs. Incheon United eked out a 4-3 shootout win over Gimcheon Sangmu FC, while FC Seoul beat Gangwon FC 5-4 on penalties. Daejeon Hana Citizen prevailed over Jeju United 8-7, also on penalties.
Seongnam FC also needed penalties to defeat their K League 2 rivals Chungbuk Cheongju 5-4.
Pohang eliminated Suwon Samsung, relegated to the K League 2 for this season, 5-4 on penalties.
Gwangju FC of the K League 1 defeated Bucheon FC of the K League 2 by 3-2.
Aleksandar Palocevic of FC Seoul (L) and Jefferson Galego of Gangwon FC battle for the ball during the clubs’ round of 16 match of the Korea Cup football tournament at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on June 19, 2024. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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