Compagno penalty clinches Jeonbuk's win | OneFootball

Jeonbuk Motors climbed above Anyang in the K League 1 table thanks to substitute Andrea Compagno's second half penalty in a poor contest on Sunday. Jeonbuk just about deserved their win but this was a game lacking in quality and intrigue.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Compagno, p, 53')

This was Anyang's big day. They were welcoming the most successful K League 1 club in history to their recently renovated home ground for the first time, but unfortunately for the league's new boys, this was a dispiriting performance and result. Off days can happen but what will really nag the home team is Jeonbuk were nowhere near their best either. This match was decided by two Kim Da-sol mistakes. The veteran goalkeeper has been a rock this year, but he looked nervous and uncomfortable throughout.

Kim's rash decision to charge off his line for a corner early in the second half gifted Jeonbuk the three points. Andrea Compagno coolly dispatched his match winning penalty in what amounted to a very limited and cautious Jeonbuk performance. As time ran out, Kim was shown a straight red card for slicing down Jeon Jin-woo as the former Bluewing winger raced clear. It was a sad end to a day that promised so much.

A good crowd of over 10,000 braved the cold wind blowing from the south but this will not go down as any sort of a classic. The lack of quality on show was jarring, especially given the talent available to both managers. Jeonbuk will be delighted with the clean sheet and the three points and manager Gus Poyet highlighted that after the game.

Anyang's start to their debut season in K League has impressed most observers. A difficult schedule owing to adjustments at their stadium meant three games on the road to open 2025. They collected three points (an opening day win in Ulsan) and finally returned home for round 4 against Gimcheon Sangmu. The Violets were well beaten and a lesser team may have folded after such a crushing disappointment. But not this team. They went on the road again, this time to leaders Daegu FC, and won 1-0. That victory took them into the international break one point and one place above today's visitors, Jeonbuk Hyundai.

Despite this game not being Anyang's home opener in K League 1, today really felt big time. The club, with help from the supportive City Hall, have added a new Anyang store, a new media centre, and pushed the media seats away from the small, pitch side temporary stand. This meant the press were quite far from the action. It felt we were in a different stadium. Or that there was a party and we weren't invited, instead reduced to watching 10,000 people have fun from a nearby hill.

The decision to move the press box is ultimately a positive one, however. The brand is growing and Anyang need more space for fans and VIPs. The most striking surprise was the small section the visiting fans were given. Last season, Suwon Bluewings were given the entire goal end under Gwanak Mountain. Jeonbuk's allocation was a third of that, with the other seats filled up with home fans. In 2024, Anyang averaged 5,250 per game in K League 2. After two matches this season, that number is over 11,500.

Anyang's competitive start has allowed manager Ryu Byeong-hoon to avoid making sweeping changes to his team to find more consistency or better results. He changed two of his starting XI for this Sunday clash, recalling Thomas Oude Kotte and Choi Seong-beom. Reigning K League 2 MVP Matheus started this match on a surprisingly strong bench, also featuring Ri Yong-jik and Kim Bo-kyung.

Jeonbuk drew 2-2 with Pohang Steelers before the international break. The period off allowed Gus Poyet much-needed training ground sessions with his team as they looked to finally get their season motoring after an indifferent start. Ghanian Nana Boateng was the only alteration from the draw with the Steelers but Poyet has been able to welcome back joint-top scorer Andrea Compagno, who had to settle for a place on the bench also featuring Lee Seung-woo and Hernandes Rodriguez.

The atmosphere inside the ground was electric before kick-off, with the teams running out to the Cranberries' Zombie, a song that has regained fame in its native Ireland, used by rugby and football clubs. Hearing this song - albeit a slightly different version - was truly awesome. Under a completely cloudless sky next to the picturesque Gwanak Mountain, the match started with dizzying levels of excitement.

And then nothing happened. Perhaps because of the strong wind blowing from the south, the match never took lift off in the opening 45 minutes. Jeonbuk went close on 34 minutes when Park Jae-young met a corner from the left but flashed his header just wide. Goalkeeper Kim Da-sol came out to meet the cross, but found himself in no man's land when he attempted to retreat. Had Park hit the target it would have been a certain goal.

That close encounter looked to have spurred Anyang on and within 60 seconds, Chae Hyeon-woo blasted at keeper Song Beom-geun from a tight angle. There was then a substitution and a yellow card. And that was essentially that. Half time had come and we paused to enjoy the spectacular sunset that was making the pitch difficult to see.

Italian striker Compagno replaced Park Jae-young at the break and he was given an early opportunity to return to the scoresheet from the penalty spot. For the second time in this game, keeper Kim rushed out to meet a corner and made a bad decision. He was fortunate to get away with it in the first half, but this time his luck deserted him. Kim cleaned two players - one from each team - and the referee deemed it a foul. There was a brief VAR check but the initial decision. Compagno sent Kim the wrong way to open the scoring after 53 minutes.

Compagno nearly doubled his tally three minutes later as Jeonbuk upped the intensity and gears. Anyang's response was to bring on Matheus Oliveira. The Brazilian is an expert dead ball specialist but is without an assist this year. Anyang's hopes lay in Matheus finding his fellow countryman Bruno Mota because Jeonbuk now had the ascendency.

Anyang thought they had a penalty of their own on 70 minutes when Mota was sent flying in the box. The referee pointed to spot, igniting a giant cheer, but then waved play on. In the confusion, players from both teams were sliced by some wild tackles. When the ball eventually went dead, irate home players angrily surrounded the referee as we waited for the VAR officials to check the incident. Play on. Kim Bo-kyung, formerly of Jeonbuk, entered soon after, and he squandered his side's to best chances inside three minutes. Time was running out.

In their desperate push for a late goal, the most disappointing aspect of Anyang's game was they never looked close to scoring. As the clock ticked past 90, there was no great siege on the Jeonbuk goal. This wasn't a backs against the wall masterclass as Anyang hoovered up possession and territory. Song wasn't called upon to make a decisive save nor was there some heroic goalmouth blocks or challenges. Anyang were poor. But what'll annoy them most is Jeonbuk were not any better.

A bad day for Kim Da-sol only got worse in the 99th minute. With Jeon Jin-woo bearing down on goal, Kim fouled the winger outside the box. The keeper was shown a red card and that officially ended Anyang's chance.

Anyang will need to het on the horse next week when Gangwon arrive. The weather will be better and hopefully another bumper crow for get behind the team. Jeonbuk, meanwhile, will enjoy the long bus ride with a much needed victory and three points.

Up next

FC Anyang are back at home next weekend when they welcome Gangwon FC. The match kicks off at 16:30 on Sunday, April 6. This is the first meeting of the two clubs in the top flight, but they have faced each other in K League 2. Their most recent meeting was in 2016, when Gangwon claimed a 3-0 win.

Jeonbuk are on the road again against surprise early season table toppers Daejeon Hana. Gus Poyet's team will have 24 hours less rest than Anyang because they'll play at 16:30 on Saturday at Daejeon's World Cup Stadium.

The return fixture between Jeonbuk and Anyang will be on May 17.

Attendance: 10,031