Jeonnam 2 - 1 Jeonbuk: Recap

Photo via hyundai-motorsfc.com

Jeonnam snapped Jeonbuk’s record breaking run with a 2 -1 victory at home on Sunday. The Dragons are on one loss this season, facing only two opponents below them on the tables in their first 8 games, leaving them in 6th after their 5th win of the season.

The Honam Derby got on it’s way from a lazy jeonbuk pass out of the back. Keeper Kwon SunTae failed to move a ball away from the area giving to Jeonnam just 35 meters out. The off-guard Jeonbuk defense was spinning in circles trying to defend the counter when Lee Chang Min got his first of two for the day.

Just before half, Jeonbuk Lee JaeSung earned a well deserved goal diving in after a corner kick possession. It wasn’t enough as one of the league better defensive squads failed to pick up marks on another Jeonnam counter. Lee Chang Min again found the net on a through ball in the second.

The game had more to it than just another derby; Jeonnam Dragons set a league record of 21 games unbeaten that held up for 17 years. That record was over taken by one game last weekend when Jeonbuk got their 22nd against Jeju last week.

Jeonbuk stays in first place, but is now riding off two losses after going down 3-2 at Kawshima Wednesday in the AFC. What had been a solid start is now a test in rocky waters as the defending League Champions have to fight to get through the group stages mid week as well as rebound in the league to hold their position against the league’s highest scoring team, Suwon Bluewings, on Saturday.

Jeonnam moves up a spot, starting off as good as they were last year. The signing of Lee Chang Min might have been their best in the offseason as Jeonnam have only managed to score 8 goals in 8 games.