Jeon Jin-woo (26, Jeonbuk) could not smile despite scoring a goal.

Jeonbuk drew 2-2 against Pohang in the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025 Round 5' held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on the 16th. With 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses, Jeonbuk is in 9th place. Pohang, with 2 draws and 2 losses, is at the bottom.

In the first half, Jeonbuk took a 2-0 lead with consecutive goals from Jeon Jin-woo and Park Jae-yong. Jeon Jin-woo exploded with 3 goals in the last 2 games, including multi-goals in the ACL2 match against Sydney. Nevertheless, he could not secure victories in those two matches.

In the second half, Lee Tae-seok scored a consolation goal. With the expulsion of Korean-young, Pohang gained a numerical advantage. Pohang equalized with a goal from Jo Sang-hyuk in the 37th minute of the second half.

On the 13th, Jeonbuk lost 3-2 against the home team Sydney FC in the second leg of the AFC Champions League 2 quarterfinals. Jeonbuk was eliminated with a total score of 5-2.

During that match, Jeonbuk's Jeon Jin-woo delivered an impressive performance by scoring two goals in the first half alone. In the 35th minute of the first half, he scored the opening goal with a powerful shot after Kim Jin-kyu retrieved the ball inside the box. Jeon Jin-woo had good positioning, pushing in the rebound after a shot from Boateng was saved by the goalkeeper, thus achieving his multi-goal.

Jeon Jin-woo's expression after the match against Pohang was not bright. Although he did his best by scoring a goal, the team ended up with a disappointing draw. He noted, "I am more disappointed that we missed the opportunity to earn 3 points than the fact that I scored. Team victory is more important than personal accolades. I also scored against Sydney, but we could have advanced to the semifinals, which is very disappointing. I wanted to alleviate the disappointment from the Sydney match today, but we couldn’t achieve victory," as he lowered his head.

Jeon Jin-woo injured his left elbow during a match against Gwangju on Feb. 23. He has since been enduring pain to keep playing. He mentioned, "I had no time to think about personal matters. I wanted to endure until the A-match. It seems like now I should rest. My body isn't in good shape. There hasn’t been a day since I got injured that I haven’t taken painkillers. I feel like I’ve built a tolerance since I’ve been taking medication continuously. I want to sleep for a week during the break," showing his fighting spirit despite his injury.

Both physically and mentally challenging, Jeon Jin-woo continues to score goals for the team. He expressed, "I am grateful for the opportunity to play. Even if it hurts, as long as the coach lets me play, I must endure. I receive a lot of autonomy in my play, thinking creatively about how to penetrate the opponent's defense," thanking Coach Poh-yeot.

After transferring from Suwon to Jeonbuk, Jeon Jin-woo reached a turning point. He stated, "I always wanted to do well in Suwon. The feeling is the same in Jeonbuk. Having been in Suwon since middle school, I felt the need for change. Coming to Jeonbuk has become a turning point for me. My mindset and play remain the same," as he smiled.

Jeon Jin-woo commented, "I try to learn from players like Son Heung-min, Neymar, and Mitoma. As a forward, I need to contribute through goals and assists. If I am a Jeonbuk player, I should show more points and performance. I still feel very lacking," continually pushing himself.

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