"Let's Go To Sangam" - Gwangju reach Korea Cup Final | OneFootball

Lee Jung-hyo has guided Gwangju FC to the Korea Cup Final for the first time in the club's history. Following promotion in 2022, Gwangju under legendary manager Lee have shown consistent improvement, finishing third, making AFC Elite for the first time, and are now in a debut Cup final.

Bucheon FC 1995 1 (Lee Eui-hyeong 45')

Gwangju FC 2 (Cho Seung-kwon 57', and Shin Chang-mu 82')

Gwangju FC advance 4-2 on aggregate.

Let the celebrations begin! Let them singSouthbound Train. Let them unfurl their new banner - "Let's Go To Sangam" it reads.

Little Gwangju are Korea Cup finalists. One of the country's great underdog stories, they continue to hit new heights. On a hot Wednesday night in Bucheon, a new chapter was written in their glorious story. Ironically, it is Gus Poyet's K League 1 runaway leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors who await in the 2025 Korea Cup Final. Lee Jung-hyo was heavily linked with the vacant Jeonju position last winter. Now he gets to show them they made a mistake by not offering him the job.

What's to stop manager Lee closing a remarkable spell with a domestic trophy? All the signs point to an exit if his club can achieve the unthinkable. He's hinted at this recently, and the whispers in the press box during the second half confirmed that. We'll find out in December at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Be sure to make it.

Gwangju, as a city, is familiar with sporting triumph, but never in the form of the beautiful game. That Lee continues to raise the standards when his small squad is raided every transfer window is remarkable. Jasir Asani has only begun to say hello to his new fans in Iran. He's the highest profile departure since promotion, but he isn't the only one. I wonder if there will be slight regret to miss out on this historic occasion? FOMO all the way from Iran.

Bucheon, of K League 2, gave it a good go in this semi-final. They brought a slender 1-0 lead into the break, but it never felt enough, especially after missing a wonderful chance to double their lead with the last play of the half. Lee regrouped, made some changes, and the tie drifted back in his direction. By the end, it resembled an exhibition match. Bucheon's death confirmed by a thousand passes. They can be proud of a good run, but this was one tie too many for Lee Yeong-min.

Bucheon manager Lee Yeong-min left key players Rodrigo Bassani and John Montaño on bench for this match. Perhaps he felt the tie had slipped away from his side in the first leg, and they were needed off the bench if an epic comeback was on. Otherwise, to reverse a poor run of form in the league, they might have been kept fresh for the trip to Changwon on Sunday. Whatever Lee's thinking, Bucheon didn't struggle without their attacking duo. Galago started on the right side of a front three and caused endless problems for Jin Si-woo throughout the opening half.

An emotional Lee Jung-hyo speaksto the press.

Lee Jong-hyo kept his own star, Reis, on the bench, too. Perhaps sensing the tie was drifting away, Reis replaced former Icelandic international striker Hólmbert Aron Fridjónsson at half time. Fridjónsson made his third appearance for the team since his summer move to the City of Light. Unfortunately, he saw very little action in the opening half, as Gwangju failed to utilise his enormous size.

It was rather fitting that Galego played a significant role in Bucheon's opening goal just before half time. Cutting in off his right wing, like he had done throughout the opening 45, the former Jeju and Gangwon winger launched a wicked drive from 20 yards. The ball was well hit but it was straight at Kim Kyeong-min. The experienced goalkeeper spilled the ball under no pressure, straight into the path of captain Lee Eui-hyeong.

The fans had only retaken their seats when full back Lee Yae-chan missed a sitter at the back post. A free kick from the left traveled a long way before reaching the unmarked 20-year-old at the back post. His composure deserted him at the wrong moment and he fired high over the bar. That was the last action of a breathless opening half.

Reis' introduction turned the tie. Occupying in the same space Galego was terrorizing Gwangju in the opening half, Reis went about immediately rectifying the problem. On 55 minutes, he delivered. Jinking past several players on the right, he found his way in the box, before teeing up Cho Seung-kwon to head home at the back post. Cho hurled himself over the advertisement hoardings as his teammates celebrated wildly on the field.

Gwangju were off the boil in the opening 45. The break probably came at the wrong time for Bucheon, who had scored and missed a good chance after. The game was there. But Gwangju Lee's half time team talk settled his side, and the tie was turning before Reis footwork and expert delivery teed up Cho.

Both managers made changes but very little happened at either end. Bucheon got involved in a spate of unnecessary fouls, pulling shirts and pushing off the ball, as the clock ran down. The frustration was evident. And the punishment, when it came, was brutal. A slick counter down the right, a cut back finding a man in space, good pace, and a great finish from substitute Shin Chang-mu.

Gwangju could celebrate at last. Their fans belted out Southbound Train, a folk song very common at both of the city's sporting institutions. When the final whistle came, players from both teams sank to the deck. It was absorbing, tight, and we

Up next

Three defeats in four have derailedBucheon's play-off push, so it is imperative they get back on the horse on Sunday in Changwon. Bucheon's record against Gyeongnam is excellent, recording 2 and 3-0 wins in 2025. They'll need to pick themselves up off the floor after this set back.

From the bright lights of Bucheon to the beaches of Seogwipo,Gwangju are back on the road this Saturday at 19:00. Gwangju aren't safe from relegation just yet, currently just four pints clear of their hosts, Jeju SK, in 10th. Encouragingly, Gwangju have won both fixtures 1-0 this season. Lee must ensure their minds don't start drifting to December's finale.