When Champions Fall: Ulsan HD's Heartbreaking 8-Game Winless Streak Continues

The Unthinkable: Champions in Crisis

Can you believe it? Ulsan HD, the team that dominated K League with three consecutive championships, just suffered their eighth consecutive match without a victory. On July 20, 2025, at Seoul World Cup Stadium, FC Seoul defeated Ulsan 1-0, thanks to Jesse Lingard's spectacular 20-meter wonder goal in the 42nd minute. This wasn't just any loss – it marked Ulsan's first defeat to Seoul in 24 matches, breaking a dominance that stretched back to October 2017. For Ulsan fans watching their team sink to 7th place with just 30 points, the pain was palpable.

The match statistics tell a story of two teams heading in opposite directions. Seoul, riding a five-game unbeaten streak, jumped from 7th to 4th place with 33 points. Meanwhile, Ulsan's nightmare continued: no wins in official matches since early June, including a disastrous FIFA Club World Cup campaign where they lost all three group stage games. Korean football communities on Naver and DCInside exploded with reactions. Seoul fans celebrated wildly after 2,822 days of frustration, while Ulsan supporters demanded answers from the coaching staff and front office.

Lingard's Magic Moment That Changed Everything

What a goal! When Hwang Do-yoon headed the ball in midfield at the 42nd minute, Lingard controlled it with his left foot, then unleashed a right-footed volley that goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo could only watch sail into the top corner. Korean football blogs described it as one of the best goals of the 2025 season. Lingard himself called it a top-five goal of his career, and the K League immediately named him Round 22 MVP – his first such honor since joining Seoul.

For international fans, understanding the context is crucial: FC Seoul hadn't beaten Ulsan since April 2018, enduring 23 matches of winless agony. This psychological barrier had become almost mythical in Korean football culture. Naver blogs and fan communities had documented every painful near-miss, every late collapse. When Lingard's shot found the net, it wasn't just three points – it was liberation from years of mental torture. The English midfielder, who arrived in K League seeking redemption after struggles in Europe, has now contributed 6 goals and 3 assists this season, becoming Seoul's attacking talisman.

Kim Pan-gon's Emotional Plea: A Manager Under Siege

The post-match press conference was heartbreaking. Manager Kim Pan-gon, who led Ulsan to their third consecutive championship just months ago, struggled to speak. His voice cracking, he said: "The results have not been good. We haven't lost to Seoul for such a long time, so I feel deeply sorry to the fans. The players are doing their best. The coaching staff is also trying our hardest to overcome this crisis. I'm truly sorry, but if you wait just a little longer, we will overcome these difficulties and show you good performances again."

Ulsan supporters on fan community sites like the now-defunct Ultimeite and its successor Neoul debated fiercely about the root causes. Some blamed physical exhaustion from the Club World Cup and packed schedule. Others pointed to tactical predictability – opponents had figured out Kim's system. The statistics back up the fatigue theory: Ulsan's passes per game dropped from 540 to 499, while defensive actions like tackles and interceptions plummeted. Goals conceded doubled from 0.9 to 2.0 per match. Korean football analysts noted that Kim Pan-gon, despite inheriting last year's squad and winning the championship, couldn't solve the fitness and depth issues that plagued the team.

Malcom's Return: Too Little, Too Late?

Here's where it gets interesting! Just two days before the Seoul defeat, Ulsan announced the signing of Malcom, the legendary Brazilian striker who absolutely demolished K League defenses in 2017-2018 with Gyeongnam FC. The 196cm giant became the only player to win MVP and Golden Boot in both K League 1 and K League 2. After six years in China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, he returned to Korea at age 31.

Malcom entered as a second-half substitute against Seoul, bringing hope to desperate Ulsan fans. His physical presence troubled Seoul's defense on set pieces, but he couldn't find the equalizer. Kim Pan-gon commented: "We expected that kind of threat when Malcom came in. I believe he will show more dangerous performances as time goes on." Korean blogs and Naver communities debated whether Malcom, despite his age, could recreate his magic. The consensus: while he won't match his peak form, his experience in Turkish leagues suggests he can still be effective. But with Ulsan's systemic problems – poor tactics, exhausted players, defensive fragility – can one striker really save the sinking ship? The fan reactions were mixed: excitement tempered by realism that Malcom alone couldn't fix what ails this team.