Professional soccer giant Jeonbuk Hyundai has suffered a shock loss to K League 1 (1st Division) side Gimpo FC in the Korea Cup.

Jeonbuk fell to Gimpo 0-1 in the round of 16 (Round 4) of the 2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup at the Gimpo Solar Soccer Stadium on Monday afternoon.

Jeonbuk, who have reached the top of the tournament five times, were unable to cross the quarterfinals threshold and were eliminated early by Gimpo. They are also winless in their last five official matches, including their last four league games (two draws and two losses).

Gimpo, on the other hand, reached the quarterfinals of the Korea Cup for the first time in its history by beating Jeonbuk, 홀덤사이트 and will face Jeju United on March 17.

Gimpo sank Jeonbuk by defending Bruno’s celestial goal in the fourth minute of the first half.

It was the debut goal for Bruno, who joined Gimpo ahead of the season after playing for FC Anyang last year.

Jeonbuk was unable to open the Gimpo goal despite starting a number of key players, including Thiago, Song Mingyu, Han Kyo-won, Lee Young-jae, Kim Jin-soo, and Kim Jung-hoon.

Kim Doo-hyun’s first win in charge of Jeonbuk fell short again.

Kim, who took charge of the Jeonbuk Fire on March 27, lost back-to-back matches to Gangwon FC (1-2) and Ulsan HD (0-1) and drew 2-2 with Incheon United on March 16.

In the Korea Cup, Jeonbuk’s first win in charge came against K-League 2 side Gimpo, but they were unsuccessful again.

Defending champions Pohang Steelers of K League 1 Pohang joined the quarterfinals after playing K League 2 Suwon 1-1 in extra time at their home stadium, then winning 5-4 on penalties. Pohang’s quarterfinal opponent is FC Seoul.

After 90 minutes of scoreless play, Suwon opened the scoring with a goal from Jin-woo Jeon three minutes into extra time.

Pohang fought back to take the game to penalty kicks, with Baek Sung-dong equalizing on a free kick in the ninth minute of extra time.

Pohang’s victory was secured by goalkeeper Hwang In-Jae, who first earned his taegeuk in June’s North and Central American World Cup second qualifying round, as he saved Suwon’s first kicker, Lee Jong-Sung.

From there, Pohang converted all five of their kickers to seal the victory.

K League 1 Ulsan advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 penalty shootout victory after playing K League 2 Gyeongnam FC to a 4-4 draw in extra time that saw 10 men sent off.

After conceding an early goal to Gyeongnam’s Cho Sang-joon in the 15th minute, Ulsan equalized in the 42nd minute when Lee Cheong-yong converted a penalty kick awarded after his opponent was sent off.

Gyeongnam regained the lead in the 17th minute of the second half through Lee Min-hyuk, but Ulsan responded with consecutive goals from Ataru in the 30th minute and Uhm Won-sang in the 34th minute. However, the joy was short-lived as Gyeongnam’s Lee Jong-un tied the game at 3-3 in the 39th minute, sending the match into extra time.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Gyeongnam seemed to regain the lead through Seol Hyun-jin’s goal in the 12th minute of extra time. However, Ulsan had the last laugh in the penalty shootout after Kim Min-woo equalized in the 10th minute of the second half of extra time to make it 4-4.

Ulsan’s goalkeeper Moon Hyun-ho made three saves to secure the win for Ulsan.

K League 1 Gwangju FC defeated K League 2 Bucheon FC 3-2 to reach the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Gwangju pulled away from Bucheon in the first half with back-to-back goals from Lee Eun-hee (2) and Gabriel.