K League 1 Regular Season - 17

Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 3 FT Jeonbuk Motors

Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
83
FT
Sat, Jul 11
한국어
Ulsan Hyundai FC
1-3
Jeonbuk Motors
⚡ Intensity 67
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 83
🎲 Upset 12
Jeonbuk seize the ultimate Hyundai Derby.

Jeonbuk's Counter-Attacking Masterclass Stuns Ulsan

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 83/100. Jeonbuk's lethal transitions proved far too much for Ulsan's sterile possession, fundamentally reshaping the upper echelons of the K League 1 table.

Opening Act

High Stakes defined this Hyundai Derby right from the kick-off under the lights at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium. The home side, Ulsan Hyundai FC, stepped onto the pitch intent on dictating the tempo and quickly established a familiar rhythm. They controlled possession beautifully in the middle third, stringing together intricate passing sequences and eventually logging a 59% share of the ball. However, for all their territorial dominance, they severely lacked a genuine cutting edge in the final third. Jeonbuk Motors absorbed this early pressure with superb tactical discipline, dropping deep and waiting for the right moment to spring forward. That pivotal moment arrived right on the half-hour mark. A blistering transitional move saw Lee Dong-Jun pick out Kim Jin-Gyu, who ruthlessly punished the hosts with a clinical finish. Both goalkeepers traded excellent saves shortly after, combining for eight stops on the day, ensuring the visitors carried a precious, hard-fought advantage into the interval.

The Pivot

The match desperately needed a secondary spark, and the away dugout’s halftime intervention delivered pure Intensity to the contest. Enter Lee Seung-Woo. Brought onto the pitch in the 46th minute, the dynamic forward immediately terrorised the previously comfortable Ulsan backline. His relentless running and direct approach completely shifted the Balance of the tie, tearing open attacking spaces that simply did not exist in the first half. By the 60th minute, this tactical masterstroke translated directly onto the scoreboard. Following a swift counter-attacking sequence, Kim Tae-Hyeon slipped a perfect ball through to the electric substitute. Lee Seung-Woo made no mistake, burying the chance to double the visitors' advantage. This super-sub intervention was the undeniable turning point of the afternoon. It forced Ulsan to completely abandon their measured build-up, pressing forward recklessly and leaving massive defensive gaps that Jeonbuk were all too eager to exploit on the break.

Resolution

With the hosts wildly overcommitted in search of a lifeline, Jeonbuk brutally exposed their disjointed defensive shape to seal the three points. Kim Ye-geon was the primary beneficiary in the 79th minute, driving into the box and finishing with aplomb to put the result completely beyond doubt. A late 89th-minute consolation header from Yago Cariello, expertly assisted by Cho Hyun-Taek, finally gave the frustrated home supporters something to cheer about, but it was purely cosmetic at that stage. This commanding 3-1 away victory is a massive statement of intent, propelling Jeonbuk up to 29 points and cementing their status as legitimate contenders at the summit. Our take? Jeonbuk’s ruthless efficiency in transition is championship material, while Ulsan’s glaring inability to convert sterile possession into meaningful chances serves as a massive red flag for their lingering title aspirations.

Key Questions

What does this mean for Ulsan Hyundai FC's season?

Sitting fifth on 27 points, dropping points in a massive title clash exposes Ulsan's defensive frailties and leaves them playing catch-up in a congested top half.

How did substitute Lee Seung-Woo change the game?

Introduced at halftime, Lee injected crucial directness and pace. His 60th-minute goal doubled the lead and forced Ulsan to overcommit, completely breaking open their defensive shape.

Did the derby intensity affect the quality of play?

Both sides maintained high tactical quality. The eight combined goalkeeper saves highlight a match that paired fierce tackles with top-tier finishing and razor-sharp counter-attacks.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
59%
41%
Ulsan Hyundai FC 59%
Jeonbuk Motors 41%
Shots on Target
5
7
Ulsan Hyundai FC 5
Jeonbuk Motors 7
Corners
2
5
Ulsan Hyundai FC 2
Jeonbuk Motors 5
Fouls
13
15
Ulsan Hyundai FC 13
Jeonbuk Motors 15
Yellow Cards
1
4
Ulsan Hyundai FC 1
Jeonbuk Motors 4
Red Cards
0
0
Ulsan Hyundai FC 0
Jeonbuk Motors 0

Match Events

Kim Jin-Gyu (Lee Dong-Jun) 30'
HT
Kim Seung-Sub Lee Seung-Woo 🔄 46'
Lee Seung-Woo 🟨 48'
52' 🔄 Lee Dong-Gyeong Marcao
53' 🟨 D. Bojanic
Kim Young-Bin Cho Wi-Je 🔄 58'
Lee Seung-Woo (Kim Tae-Hyeon) 60'
Kim Jin-Gyu 🟨 63'
Lee Dong-Jun 🟨 64'
Kim Jin-Gyu J. Gamboa 🔄 65'
Lee Dong-Jun Kim Ye-geon 🔄 65'
65' 🔄 Lee Jin-Hyun T. Oude Kotte
65' 🔄 Lee Gyu-Seong H. Lee
65' 🔄 Kang Sang-Woo Jang Si-Young
74' 🔄 Jung Seung-Hyun Seo Myung-Guan
Kim Ye-geon 79'
Bruno Mota G. Paulauskas 🔄 86'
89' Yago Cariello (Cho Hyun-Taek)
Oberdan 🟨 90'+5
FT

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
04/04/2026 Jeonbuk Motors 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
08/30/2025 Ulsan Hyundai FC 0 - 2 Jeonbuk Motors K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
05/31/2025 Jeonbuk Motors 3 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
03/01/2025 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
07/20/2024 Jeonbuk Motors 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
06/01/2024 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
03/30/2024 Jeonbuk Motors 2 - 2 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
03/12/2024 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors AFC Champions League Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
03/05/2024 Jeonbuk Motors 1 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC AFC Champions League Jeonju World Cup Stadium
12/03/2023 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/04/2026
K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
08/30/2025
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
05/31/2025
K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
03/01/2025
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
07/20/2024
K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
06/01/2024
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
03/30/2024
K League 1 Jeonju World Cup Stadium
03/12/2024
AFC Champions League Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
03/05/2024
AFC Champions League Jeonju World Cup Stadium
12/03/2023
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Ulsan Hyundai FC Win
Jeonbuk Motors Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 FC Seoul 16 35 28 12 +16 WFC Seoul 1 - 0 Incheon United (05-07-2026)WDaejeon Citizen 1 - 2 FC Seoul (16-05-2026)WGwangju FC 0 - 1 FC Seoul (12-05-2026)LJeju United FC 2 - 1 FC Seoul (09-05-2026)DFC Seoul 0 - 0 FC Anyang (05-05-2026)
2 Jeonbuk Motors 17 29 25 15 +10 WUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 3 Jeonbuk Motors (11-07-2026)LJeonbuk Motors 1 - 2 Gangwon FC (04-07-2026)WJeonbuk Motors 1 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (17-05-2026)DBucheon FC 1995 0 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (13-05-2026)DFC Anyang 1 - 1 Jeonbuk Motors (10-05-2026)
3 Pohang Steelers 17 28 18 14 +4 WGwangju FC 0 - 3 Pohang Steelers (11-07-2026)WFC Anyang 2 - 3 Pohang Steelers (04-07-2026)LBucheon FC 1995 2 - 0 Pohang Steelers (17-05-2026)WIncheon United 0 - 1 Pohang Steelers (12-05-2026)WDaejeon Citizen 0 - 2 Pohang Steelers (09-05-2026)
4 Gangwon FC 16 27 21 11 +10 WJeonbuk Motors 1 - 2 Gangwon FC (04-07-2026)WGangwon FC 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC (17-05-2026)WGangwon FC 2 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-05-2026)DGwangju FC 0 - 0 Gangwon FC (09-05-2026)DGangwon FC 1 - 1 Pohang Steelers (05-05-2026)
5 Ulsan Hyundai FC 17 27 24 24 0 LUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 3 Jeonbuk Motors (11-07-2026)DGwangju FC 1 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC (05-07-2026)LGangwon FC 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC (17-05-2026)WUlsan Hyundai FC 2 - 1 Jeju United FC (13-05-2026)WUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Bucheon FC 1995 (10-05-2026)
6 Incheon United 16 21 21 18 +3 LFC Seoul 1 - 0 Incheon United (05-07-2026)WIncheon United 4 - 0 Gwangju FC (16-05-2026)LIncheon United 0 - 1 Pohang Steelers (12-05-2026)WGimcheon Sangmu FC 0 - 3 Incheon United (09-05-2026)DDaejeon Citizen 0 - 0 Incheon United (05-05-2026)
7 FC Anyang 16 20 21 19 +2 LFC Anyang 2 - 3 Pohang Steelers (04-07-2026)WJeju United FC 1 - 2 FC Anyang (17-05-2026)DFC Anyang 2 - 2 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (13-05-2026)DFC Anyang 1 - 1 Jeonbuk Motors (10-05-2026)DFC Seoul 0 - 0 FC Anyang (05-05-2026)
8 Jeju United FC 16 19 14 17 -3 DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Jeju United FC (05-07-2026)LJeju United FC 1 - 2 FC Anyang (17-05-2026)LUlsan Hyundai FC 2 - 1 Jeju United FC (13-05-2026)WJeju United FC 2 - 1 FC Seoul (09-05-2026)WBucheon FC 1995 0 - 1 Jeju United FC (05-05-2026)
9 Bucheon FC 1995 17 19 14 18 -4 DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Bucheon FC 1995 (11-07-2026)DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Bucheon FC 1995 (04-07-2026)WBucheon FC 1995 2 - 0 Pohang Steelers (17-05-2026)DBucheon FC 1995 0 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (13-05-2026)LUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 0 Bucheon FC 1995 (10-05-2026)
10 Daejeon Citizen 16 17 19 18 +1 DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Bucheon FC 1995 (04-07-2026)LDaejeon Citizen 1 - 2 FC Seoul (16-05-2026)LGangwon FC 2 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-05-2026)LDaejeon Citizen 0 - 2 Pohang Steelers (09-05-2026)DDaejeon Citizen 0 - 0 Incheon United (05-05-2026)
11 Gimcheon Sangmu FC 17 16 17 23 -6 DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Bucheon FC 1995 (11-07-2026)DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Jeju United FC (05-07-2026)LJeonbuk Motors 1 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (17-05-2026)DFC Anyang 2 - 2 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (13-05-2026)LGimcheon Sangmu FC 0 - 3 Incheon United (09-05-2026)
12 Gwangju FC 17 8 8 41 -33 LGwangju FC 0 - 3 Pohang Steelers (11-07-2026)DGwangju FC 1 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC (05-07-2026)LIncheon United 4 - 0 Gwangju FC (16-05-2026)LGwangju FC 0 - 1 FC Seoul (12-05-2026)DGwangju FC 0 - 0 Gangwon FC (09-05-2026)