▲ Action from the match between FC Seoul and Busan IPark
K League 1 leaders FC Seoul bowed their heads in a pride battle against K League 2 leaders Busan IPark, failing to advance to the Round of 16 of the Korea Cup.
Seoul lost 0-2 to Busan in the away match of the third round of the 2026–2027 Hana Bank Korea Cup held at Busan Gudeok Stadium on the 29th.
Ahead of their 21st-round K League 1 match against tough rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai on August 3, Seoul deployed a bold rotation squad, but suffered a sudden blow just seven minutes into the first half.
Busan's Cho Dong-jae sent a cross from the left flank, which Guttenberg connected with a header to score the opening goal.
Unable to turn the tide, FC Seoul manager Kim Gi-dong made a high-stakes move in the 27th minute of the second half by substituting out Lee Seung-mo, Jung Hyun-woo, Park Jang-han-gyeol, and Vato en masse, bringing on key players such as Cho Young-wook, Son Jung-beom, Moon Seon-min, and Anderson.
The substitution cards bore immediate fruit.
Just two minutes after coming on, Son Jung-beom delivered a cross that Cho Young-wook met with a sharp shot to ramp up the attack, but they had to swallow their disappointment as the ball hit the goalpost.
Having weathered the crisis, Busan pulled further ahead in the 41st minute of the second half.
Baek Ga-on calmly collected a penetrating pass from the opening goalscorer Guttenberg, drove it into the left side of the penalty area, and slotted it into the corner to seal the victory.
K League 1 fourth-place Ulsan HD also suffered the bitter cup of elimination, falling 0-1 to Ulsan Citizen FC of the third tier (K3 League).
Ahead of their 21st-round showdown against FC Anyang on August 2, Ulsan left out most of their starting players, traveled with only seven bench members, and organized the squad with Maranhão wearing the captain's armband.
However, they found the match difficult after conceding the winning goal to Ulsan Citizen FC's Kim Jae-chul in the 18th minute of the first half.
Kim Jae-chul created a shooting angle in front of two Ulsan defenders and coolly hammered a right-footed shot into the back of the net.
Even in the 6th minute of the second half, during a counterattack opportunity, they drove the ball right up to the goalmouth and fired a shot, but missed the chance for an additional goal as it was blocked by Ulsan goalkeeper Hwang Byung-keun, who was playing his debut match.
Ulsan Citizen FC dropped their defensive line and built a solid defensive wall, and Ulsan's blunt attacking spearhead ultimately failed to pierce it.
K League 1 side Incheon United also lost 0-1 after conceding a dramatic theatrical winning goal to Kim Min-sik in the 90th minute against second-tier Gimpo FC, while FC Anyang knelt 1-3 against Chungbuk Cheongju (second tier).
K League 1 club Jeju SK FC secured a hard-fought victory after a 3-3 draw through extra time against second-tier Hwaseong FC, prevailing 4-3 in a penalty shootout bloodbath.
Hwaseong finished the first half ahead 2-0 thanks to an opening goal by Jang Min-jun just seven minutes in and an additional goal by Demetrius in the 24th.
Jeju launched a counterattack, pulling one back with a header from Negueba five minutes into the second half, and finally brought the match back to level terms with a dramatic goal by Park Chang-jun in the 90th minute.
Exchanging a goal each in extra time to remain deadlocked at 3-3, the two teams ultimately entered a penalty shootout where Jeju edged out Hwaseong 4-3, propelled by two fine saves from goalkeeper Ahn Chan-gi, to narrowly grab a ticket to the Round of 16.
Gimcheon Sangmu defeated Suwon FC (second tier) 2-1, Bucheon FC edged Paju Frontier FC (second tier) 3-0, and Gwangju FC beat Cheonan FC 1-0 to secure their progression to the Round of 16.
Dangjin Citizen FC of the K3 League defeated fellow league competitor Yeoju FC 1-0, and Chungnam Asan (second tier) overcame Siheung Citizen FC (third tier) 2-1.
Second-tier Seongnam FC also beat fellow league side Gimhae FC 1-0 to join the Round of 16.
Busan Transportation Corporation of the K3 League was eliminated after losing 4-5 in a penalty shootout to Jinju Citizen FC, the leaders of the K4 League.
(Photo provided by the Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)
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