Suwon Samsung rebounds to K-League’s top position

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings regained the top position in the K-League on Sunday, downing the hometown Pohang Steelers 1-0.
Suwon edged Pohang thanks to Brazilian-born forward Nadson Rodrigues de Souza, whose header put Suwon ahead of last-place Pohang in the 66th minute. It was Nadson’s 11th goal of the season.
Suwon, with six wins, one draw and three losses, moved ahead of Ulsan Hyundai FC, which could do no better than a 0-0 draw with Gwangju Sangmu FC on Saturday.
Suwon came into Sunday’s contest still smarting from a mid-week loss to Seongnam Ilhwa FC last Wednesday. Suwon Samsung coach Cha Bum-kun was determined to prevent a second consecutive loss on Sunday.
He called up the Brazilian duo of Nadson and forward Marcel Augusto Ortolan to add some spark to the side. It was a strategy that at first proved fruitless.
Suwon, smothered by Pohang’s tight defense, was frustrated in its attempts to gain coherence in attack. Pohang was also a constant threat on counterattack.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, Cha brought on substitute Kim Dong-hyun, known for his power and ability to command the ground, for Marcel in a bid to change the tide of the game.
Seven minutes later, Kim headed Kim Doo-hyun’s corner kick into the area, where a lurking Nadson headed in for the match winner.
Nadson received a yellow card for excessive post-goal celebration. He climbed a fence on the perimeter of the pitch to greet the screaming Suwon fans.
In Busan, the visiting Chunnam Dragons defeated the hometown Icons 2-1 as Chunnam’s Brazilian forward Joao Soares Da Mota Neto, known as Mota, chalked up a double. Mota raised his season goal tally to a K-League best 14, two ahead of Daegu FC’s Brazilian forward Raimundo Nonato de Lima Ribeira.
Mota was spot-on with two first-half free kicks, one in the 8th and one in the 47th minute. Chunnam has shown good form recently, winning four of its last six games, along with two draws.
FC Seoul managed a 1-1 draw away at Bucheon SK. FC Seoul’s Kim Eun-jung pegged one back 3 minutes from time to cancel out a 40th minute free kick by Bucheon’s Kim Ki-hyung.

by Jeong Young-ja, Limb Jae-un