Professional football club Suwon Samsung will return to K League 1 after three years.
Under the guidance of head coach Lee Jung-hyo, Suwon secured a 2-0 victory against Yongin FC in the 32nd round of the Hana Bank K League 2 at Suwon World Cup Stadium on November 8.
With this win, Suwon reached 66 points, extending their lead over third-place Seoul E-Land (57 points) to nine points. Regardless of the outcomes of the remaining two matches, they have secured at least second place, which guarantees automatic promotion to K League 1.
Continuing their unbeaten streak to 14 matches (10 wins, 4 draws), Suwon is also six points ahead of second-place Suwon FC (60 points). If they earn just one more point in their remaining matches, they will clinch the league title.
Suwon could have confirmed their promotion with just a draw in this match. They broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute when Kim Min-woo's corner kick was headed in by Edgaras Dubickas for the opening goal.
The second goal came in the 55th minute. Lim Ji-hoon's shot from outside the penalty area deflected off a defender and fell to Kieran Lebon, who finished with a bicycle kick from the left side of the penalty area, sealing the victory.
This marks Suwon's return to K League 1 after being relegated in 2023. The club has won K League 1 four times, the Korea Football Association Cup five times, and the predecessor of the AFC Champions League, the Asian Club Championship, twice. After finishing last in K League 1 in 2023, Suwon experienced their first relegation. They placed sixth in K League 2 the following year and finished second last year, but lost in the promotion playoffs to Jeju SK FC.
Determined to bounce back, Suwon successfully revamped their team under new head coach Lee Jung-hyo at the start of this season. Lee's strong leadership has improved team organization, particularly strengthening the defense, which has allowed them to maintain the league's only average of less than one goal conceded per match this season.
Suwon started the season with five consecutive wins and solidified their position at the top with a club-record seven straight victories, achieving their primary goal of promotion with two matches remaining.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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