Both class acts of the K League, Ulsan and Jeonbuk, faced off on the field for their first "Hyundai Derby" of the season on March 1, 2025, at Ulsan Munsoo Stadium. A thrilling match saw Ulsan secure their first home win this season with a narrow 1-0 victory, thanks to midfielder Bojanic's sensational strike. This victory puts Ulsan back on track after they had received criticism for their opening match loss against FC Anyang.
Managed by Kim Pan-gon, the defending champions were eager to prove their mettle. They displayed strong pressure early on, leaving Jeonbuk on the back foot as they dominated possession and shots on goal. The match started with Ulsan immediately threatening through efforts from Eom Won-sang and Kim Min-hyeok, but Jeonbuk’s goalkeeper Song Bum-keun was up to the task, making significant saves to keep Ulsan at bay.
Even though Ulsan held the majority of the chances, including six shots to Jeonbuk’s none during the first half, they couldn’t find the net, much to the frustration of their home crowd of 26,317. The half ended goalless as they struggled with their finishing.
With the intention of capitalizing on their momentum, Ulsan made tactical changes at half-time. The introduction of Rubikson shifted the dynamic, and it was during the 65th minute when the deadlock was finally broken. Following Rubikson's assist, Bojanic unleashed a remarkable right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty arch, which rebounded off the left crossbar and finally crossed the line. Notably, this was Ulsan's first home goal of the season and his first goal of the campaign.
Jeonbuk responded to the challenge by substituting several attacking players, including Jeon Jin-woo and Kang Sang-yun, striving to level the score. Despite efforts to draw level, including several close chances late on, they failed to find the back of the net. Ulsan’s goalkeeper Mun Jeong-in thwarted Jeonbuk’s last efforts, and the match concluded with Ulsan celebrating their well-fought victory.
The winning moment was hailed by Bojanic, who stated, "It was a great game. The opponents also pressured us to score, but our defense held strong. I am very satisfied with today’s win." Ulsan’s triumph propelled them to six points, allowing them to advance up the league standings.
Meanwhile, Jeonbuk’s season took another turn as they tasted their first defeat after previously nabbing one win and one draw. Prior to facing Ulsan, they had managed to secure three points against Gimcheon Sangmu but had followed up with disappointing results against Gwangju FC, which resulted in this match against Ulsan ending their short winning run.
On the same day, Gwangju FC secured their first victory of the season, overcoming newly-promoted FC Anyang 2-1 at Gwangju World Cup Stadium. After conceding first through Mota's header early on, Gwangju leveled the score thanks to Assani's outstanding performances, scoring twice to bring the match to life. His goals made Assani the league’s top scorer with three goals.
Meanwhile, at Pohang Steel Yard, the clash between Pohang Steelers and Daegu FC ended with no goals, marking Daegu's continued unbeaten streak with two wins and one draw. The hosts finally secured their first point of the season but were eager to find their first win.
Now, as the K League progresses, all eyes will be on Ulsan as they seek to maintain this momentum and strive for more victories. Their next matches will be pivotal as they contend for the top spots within the league.