On February 22, 2025, at the Inchon Football Stadium, the K League 2025 season kicked off with thrilling action as INcheon United defeated Gyeongnam FC 2-0. Under the guidance of their new head coach, Yoon Jeong-Hwan, INcheon showcased their numerous strengths, particularly the talents of key players like Stefan Mugosa and newly signed Barrow.
The match began with both teams eager to claim their first points of the season. INcheon, featuring a 4-4-2 formation, had Mugosa and Park Seung-ho leading the attack, with Lee Myung-joo and Kim Do-hyeok controlling the midfield. The defensive line comprised Kim Bo-seop and Jelso on the wings, supported by center-backs Park Kyung-seob and Kim Gun-hee. On the other side, Gyeongnam entered the battle with a 4-3-3 formation, deploying Karil at the front alongside flank forwards, Fonseca and Jeong Chung-geun, creating opportunities for Lukas the goalkeeper.
Right from the start, INcheon established dominance. Within 13 minutes, Lee Myung-joo's precise cross enabled Mugosa to make contact, but his header struck the post. INcheon continued to press and create chances, with Jelso particularly active on the right side, where he provided another assist to Mugosa; unfortunately, the latter's header went just wide.
Gyeongnam had their chances as well. A counter-attack led to Kim Seon-ho's cross, which was nicely connected by Lee Jun-jae, but INcheon goalkeeper Min Seong-jun displayed incredible reflexes to keep the score level.
The second half did not alter the momentum much, with INcheon still applying the pressure. Key chances were squandered, including one from Park Seung-ho who found himself several feet from the goal, but hesitated.
It was not until the 81st minute when INcheon broke the deadlock. A long ball was played to Mugosa, who skillfully lifted the ball over the encroaching Gyeongnam keeper after beating two defenders. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations among the INcheon fans and secured Mugosa's place as the match-winner.
Adding insult to injury for Gyeongnam, Barrow ignited the excitement once again during stoppage time. After threading the needle through Gyeongnam's defense, Barrow set up Kim Sung-min with a clean pass, which Kim executed flawlessly. With Kim's goal, INcheon sealed the match at 2-0, displaying their aspirations to return to the K League's top tier.
Coach Yoon Jeong-hwan, after the win, expressed his pride, stating: "This victory showcases what we can achieve this season. My team showed resilience until the end, and I hope they can carry this momentum forward."
With fans buzzing about the strong start to their campaign and the tactical prowess on display, INcheon United aims to fulfill the pre-season expectations as championship contenders. They demonstrated the ability to capitalize on their chances and maintain composure under pressure, setting up for what promises to be an exciting season.