Incheon United Secures Second Consecutive Win by Defeating Jeonbuk and Ulsan; Mugosa Returns with Winning Goal

Professional football club Incheon United has achieved a two-game winning streak, defeating Ulsan HD following their victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

In the 19th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 held at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium today (July 21), Incheon secured a 2-1 win against Ulsan thanks to a winning penalty kick by Mugosa in second-half stoppage time.

Incheon, which had suffered consecutive losses to FC Seoul and Anyang FC following the World Cup break, previously defeated Jeonbuk 1-0 at home in the last round. By taking down Ulsan as well, the team recorded its third winning streak of the season.

With 27 points, Incheon climbed one spot from 7th to 6th place, while Ulsan, winless in five matches (2 draws, 3 losses), remained in 4th place (28 points).

Incheon took the lead in the 40th minute of the first half when Perrier finished a low cross from Kim Seong-min with his left foot. Just two minutes later, Ulsan's Lee Dong-gyeong equalized the score to 1-1 with a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area following a pass from Eric.

In the 10th minute of the second half, during a scramble in front of the Ulsan goal, Incheon's Juan Ibiza fired a shot that was narrowly cleared by defender Jung Seung-hyun, who was inside the goal.

Despite protests from the Incheon bench claiming the ball had crossed the goal line, the referee did not acknowledge a goal.

The match, which seemed destined for a draw, ended in a victory for Incheon following a penalty kick by substitute Mugosa in stoppage time.

The foul was called after Ulsan defender Lee Jae-ik kicked the leg of Mugosa as he touched a cross with his left foot in the penalty area.

Mugosa, who had been struggling with a hamstring injury, found the back of the net for the first time in three months since the home match against Ulsan in the 7th round on April 11.

With his 8th goal of the season, Mugosa moved into a tie for first place in the scoring rankings alongside Yago (Ulsan) and Lee Ho-jae (Pohang).

At the Jeju World Cup Stadium, Jeju United and Gangwon FC drew 1-1.

Jeju scored the opening goal in the 24th minute of the first half when Kim Shin-jin finished a diagonal cross from a free kick on the right by Lee Chang-min with a running header.

It was Kim Shin-jin's second goal of the season and his second consecutive match with a goal.

Gangwon, which increased its ball possession despite conceding, did not remain idle.

In the 27th minute of the first half, Ko Young-jun leveled the match with a right-footed curling shot from the left of the penalty arc that pierced the right side of the goal.

Later, in the 39th minute of the second half, Abudula appeared to have scored a go-ahead goal with a high-pointing header from a cross sent by Hong Chul from the left.

However, after consulting with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, the referee ruled it offside, and neither team was able to score additional goals thereafter.

Abudula sighed and looked toward the sky once more in second-half stoppage time after his chip shot in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper was blocked by the keeper's hand.

Second-place Gangwon (32 points) only managed to narrow the gap with league leader FC Seoul (39 points) to 7 points.

Jeju remained in 8th place (24 points).

At the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonbuk and Daejeon Hana Citizen drew 0-0.

Jeonbuk dominated the first half but failed to score, and even missed a penalty kick opportunity earned in stoppage time, heading into the second half with regret.

A cross sent by Jeonbuk's Lee Seung-woo from the right side of the goal area hit the right hand of a defender, leading to a handball foul and a penalty kick.

However, Lee Seung-woo's shot, aimed to the right after he read the direction of the goalkeeper's dive, missed the goal.

In the second half, Jeonbuk brought on rookie attacker Kim Ye-geon and Daejeon introduced veteran striker Joo Min-kyu to increase the intensity of their attacks, but both sides were unable to find the net.

Jeonbuk remained in 3rd place with 30 points, while Daejeon stayed in 9th place with 20 points.

(Photo: Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.