The Pohang Steelers and Ulsan Hyundai in the race for the top of the Korean Football League (K League 1) were evenly matched as the chasers picked up three points, while leaders Ulsan could only muster one, bringing the gap between the two teams to six points.
Gangwon FC climbed off the bottom of the table with a valuable win over Jeonbuk Hyundai in a rain-soaked match.
Leaders Ulsan drew 1-1 with Daejeon Hana Citizen in the 30th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at Munsusu Stadium in Ulsan on Saturday.
The result moves Ulsan to 19 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses (62 points) and leaves them with a six-point gap on second-place Pohang (56 points). Daejeon remains in eighth place with nine wins, 11 draws and 10 losses (38 points).
Ulsan, who have one win, two draws and two losses in their last five matches, rested their mainstays Bako, Lee Cheong-yong, Kim Young-kwon, Cho Hyun-woo and Lee Kyu-sung. Instead, Kim Sung-joon, Lim Jong-jong, Cho Soo-hyuk, and Kim Ji-hyun were given a chance.
Against Ulsan’s wishes, Daejeon scored the first goal of the game. In the first minute of the match, Kim In-gyun rattled the Ulsan net after a quick dribble after receiving a pass from Masa.
Ulsan reorganized their lineup around Kim Ki-hee, who was named captain for the day, and increased their offense. After pounding Daejeon’s goal, Ulsan succeeded in equalizing in the 29th minute.
Lee In-joo-gyu was fouled in a contest with an opposing defender and was awarded a penalty kick. He stepped up to the spot kick and completely fooled goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun to tie the game at 1-1. With his 14th goal of the season, Lee scored his 14th goal of the season and overtook Thiago (13 goals, Daejeon) to take sole possession of the top scoring spot.
Needing a win to stay in the race, Ulsan upped the ante in the second half, bringing on Rubikson, Lee Chung-yong, and Bako.
However, they were unable to complete the comeback as Bako’s goal was disallowed after a video review ruled him offside, and Lee In-gyu missed a penalty in stoppage time, leaving them with a point.
Ulsan Hyundai’s In-Joo In-gyu leads the league in goals (Courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association)
Prior to Ulsan, Pohang enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Suwon FC at the Pohang Steel Yard, led by a multi-goal performance from Zeca.
With five wins and four draws in their last nine matches, Pohang closed the gap on Ulsan to six points with 15 wins, 11 draws and four losses.
Suwon FC remained in 10th place with 8W5D17L (29 points).
Pohang took the lead in the 28th minute through a goal by Zeca. Zeca stretched his legs to head home Wandelsson’s cross from the left flank to give Pohang the lead.
With the momentum building, Zeca added a second goal in the 44th minute. Zeca broke free on a solo dribble in the Suwon FC zone and smashed the ball into the corner for his second goal of the match. With two more goals, Zeca recorded his 10th goal of the season.바카라
Pohang continued their offense in the second half and tried to score more goals, but they were unable to score any more goals as goalkeeper Labor Gun was able to make saves to secure a two-goal victory.
Gangwon FC escaped from the bottom of the K League 1 (Photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association)
Gangwon came from behind to win 3-1 against Jeonbuk at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Jürgen Klinsmann, the national soccer team’s head coach, and Cha Doo-ri were in attendance to watch the game. It’s been about three months since Klinsmann’s last visit to a K League game, on June 24 against Suwon Samsung FC Seoul.
With the valuable away win, Gangwon improved to 4W12D14L (24 points), dropping Suwon Samsung (22 points), who have played one game less, to 12th place.
Jeonbuk remained in fifth place with 12 points (7 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses), ahead of Incheon United (43 points, 35 wins, -1 losses) on goal difference, as their winless streak in their last five matches continued.
Jeonbuk got off to a good start, scoring the first goal of the match. Han Gyo-won was fouled by Lee Ji-sol while breaking through and earned a penalty kick. Gustavo calmly took the kick and scored the first goal.
Gangwon fought back with foreign strikers such as Gabriel, Yago, and Gallego to win the game, and Gabriel’s goal in the 45th minute tied the game. Gabriel received a pass from Shin Min-woo in front of the Jeonbuk goal, turned around, and quickly fired a shot that shook the Jeonbuk net.
With the momentum on their side, Gangwon came back with a goal from Gallego in first-half stoppage time. After receiving a pass from Yago in a counterattack situation, Gallego hit an accurate shot with his right foot to score the game-winning goal.
Jeonbuk tried to counterattack at the start of the second half by introducing Ahn Hyun-beom and Moon Sun-min, but the goal came from Gangwon. After blocking Jeonbuk’s attacks and looking to counterattack, Gangwon sealed the win with a goal from Kim Dae-won in the 30th minute.
Needing a point, Jeonbuk upped the ante, but the sudden downpour made it difficult for them to play the way they wanted to as the turf became waterlogged.
Incheon earned a 2-1 win at home against Jeju United at the Incheon Football Stadium thanks to Hernandez’s goal in second-half stoppage time.
Incheon climbed to sixth place with 11 wins, 10 draws and nine losses (43 points). Jeju, which suffered its eighth straight away defeat, remained in ninth place with 9W8D13L (35 points).