Seoul Eland kept their hopes alive for an upset victory.

Seoul Eland defeated Seongnam FC 1-0 in the 37th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2024 on Tuesday at Mokdong Sports Complex, thanks to a goal from Chang-Jun Lee in the second minute of the second half. With the win, Lee Land improved to 55 points and reduced the gap between them and leader FC Anyang (61 points) to six points. Seongnam, on the other hand, suffered another defeat, eos파워볼 delaying the debut win for head coach Jeon Jong-jun.

Lee Rand pulled out the 3-4-3 card. Cho Young-kwang started up front. He formed a trio with Jung Jae-min and Lee Chang-joon. Park Min-seo, Seo Jae-min, Kazuki, and Chae Kwang-hoon lined up at the back. The three backs were Kim Min-gyu, Baek Jiwoong, and Kim Oh-gyu. Moon Jung-in was in goal. Bruno Silva, who was injured, was included in the lineup.

Seongnam lined up in a 4-3-3. Huiz, Jung-min, and Shin Jae-won formed the back three. In the midfield were Ryu Jun-sun, Kook Kwan-woo, and Park Kwang-il. The back four was Kim Hun-min, Jung Seung-yong, Cho Sung-wook, and Jung Won-jin. Yoo Sang-hoon wore the goalkeeper’s gloves.

The game was dominated by Eland from the start. In the sixth minute of the first half, Lee Land had the decisive chance. Kazuki’s through ball found Cho Young-kwang. Cho had a chance to take on the goalkeeper, but his shot was saved by the keeper. Lee Land continued to attack Seongnam down the flanks, but couldn’t create much of a chance.

In the 28th minute, Kook Kwan-woo collided with Park Min-seo in the box and went down. The referee conducted an on-field review to determine whether a penalty kick should be awarded. The result was a no-foul.

In the 35th minute, Chang Jun beat one of the defenders with an arcing shot. It went in. In the 37th minute, Lee Land missed a great chance. Park Min-seo’s corner kick from the right side found the head of Kim Oh-kyu. Yoo Sang-hoon made a super save as it entered the goal.

In the 42nd minute, Park Min-seo shot a ball from the right side. It went over the goal. In the 43rd minute, Chae Kwang-hoon’s cross from the right side was met by Jeong Jae-min with a beautiful header. It went just wide.

Seongnam had the decisive chance in first-half stoppage time. A corner kick was headed in by Jung Seung-yong. It hit the post.

In the second half, Lee made a change to the side. They took off Park Min-seo and brought on Kim Young-wook. In the first minute of the half, Jung Jae-min broke through and shot. It was defended. In the second minute, Lee Land scored. Kazuki sent in a corner kick from the right side that Baek Jiwoong headed home. The ball rebounded back to Baek, who dived in to finish. The assistant referee called for offside. However, VAR confirmed the goal.

The offense continued for Korea. In the 10th minute, Seo Jae-min had a shot that went wide. 15th minute, Seongnam made a substitution. Kook Kwan-woo and Shin Jae-won were taken off and Kim Jung-hwan and Jang Young-ki came on. 16th minute, Lee Dong-min took a turning shot from the front of the arc, but it was weak. 17th minute Lee Land substituted Montaño for Cho Young-kwang.

18th minute, Kazuki fired a sharp shot. His right-footed shot from inside the box was blocked by a super save from Yoo Sang-hoon. In the 25th minute, Seongnam created a good chance. A corner kick from the left found Huiz at the back post. Huiz sent a header into the center of the box, where Kim Jung-hwan got a shot on goal, but it went over the bar.

In the 27th minute, Lee made a great move. He played a passing game from the right side and found Jung Jae-min in the center. Jeong turned his back on the ball and found Montaño. Montaño’s shot went over the crossbar.

Eland made two substitutions. In the 32nd minute, he took off Jung Jae-min and Kazuki and put on Kim Shin-jin and Park Chang-hwan. In the 41st minute, he took off Chang-Joon and brought on Bruno Silva. In the 42nd minute, Seongnam had a great chance. After receiving a roving pass from the back with his chest, Dui-min took a volley. It was weak. In the 43rd minute, a roving pass from Duimin found a diving Huiz. Huiz’s shot was deflected by the defense.

In stoppage time, Seongnam missed a crucial chance, and the match ended with a 1-0 victory for Eland.