In 2nd half, Steelers pick up where they left off

The Pohang Steelers got off to a strong start in the second half of the K-League Classic with a 3-0 thrashing of the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in an away match on Sunday, which kept the Steelers a point clear of runner-up Ulsan Hyundai.

Ulsan increased its lead over the Motors to three points with a 2-1 win over Incheon United, while FC Seoul’s scoreless draw against Jeju United moved the capital team within a point of Jeonbuk.

Park Sung-ho was a factor in all of the Steelers’ three goals at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. The visitors opened the scoring in the seventh minute thanks to a passing mistake by Jeonbuk midfielder Jeong Hyuk, which Park intercepted and fed via Kim Seung-dae to No Byung-jun. No converted the pass to a nonstop shot that was deflected off Wilkinson. No headed it again - this time into the back of the net. Park then doubled Pohang’s lead, scoring by himself in the 51st minute. The 31-year-old striker sealed the victory with a 58th-minute goal, his ninth of the season. That ended Jeonbuk’s 10-game unbeaten streak, while it gave Pohang its first points in three games.

At Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Silva Rocha and Kim Shin-wook netted each for the hosts, before Incheon defender Lee Yoon-pyo reduced the deficit with a last-minute goal. FC Seoul extended its undefeated streak to 11 with a scoreless draw away against Busan I’Park. Busan tied with Incheon on 41 points in the bottom of Group A and trails Incheon on goal difference.

The Seongnam Chunma, which would have made Group A instead of Busan had it scored one more goal in a 1-0 win over Gyeongnam FC in the first half’s final match last Sunday, showed off its power in Group B with a 3-1 win over Daejeon Citizen on Saturday. Lim Chae-min, Ivan Vukovic and Kim Dong-sub scored for the hosts at Tancheon Sports Complex, while Kim Tae-yeon scored for Daejeon. Seo Dong-hyun scored the winner, lifting Jeju United to a 1-0 victory over Daegu FC.

BY MOON GWANG-LIP [joe@joongang.co.kr]