Jeonbuk continue to push forward as Ulsan start to wobble

Football

Published: 27 Jun. 2022, 18:30

Jeonbuk continue to push forward as Ulsan start to wobble

Jun Amano of Ulsan Hyundai, center, kicks the ball during a match against Seongnam FC on Sunday at Ulsan Munsu Stadium in Ulsan. [YONHAP]

Park Chu-young of Ulsan Hyundai, center, reacts after missing a chance to score during a match against Seongnam FC on Sunday at Ulsan Munsu Stadium in Ulsan. [YONHAP]

Five-time defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are making their way up the K League standings, beating Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1 and holding Daegu FC to a 1-1 draw over the last week, while top club Ulsan Hyundai's form wavers as they were held to a 0-0 draw by last-place Seongnam.

After four months of K league action, this may be the time that Ulsan's form has started to stumble.

On Sunday, the top club was held to a scoreless draw against Seongnam, who only have two wins this season. This is Ulsan's fourth draw this season.

The problem for Ulsan was converting, as they held most of the ball, at 74 percent, had 13 shots and six shots on target while Seongnam had just six shots, four on target.

Having added three points on Wednesday after beating the Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1, Ulsan still holds an eight-point lead over runner-up Jeonbuk.

However, the defending champions seem to be gaining momentum this month after beating the top team on June 19.

On Wednesday, Jeonbuk defeated the Bluewings 2-1 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju for their first home win since the start of the season in February.

That victory put them in second place, only the second time this season that the North Jeolla club has found themselves in the runner-up position.

Despite being held to a 1-1 draw against Daegu on Saturday, Jeonbuk still sits in second with 32 points while Jeju United has fallen to third place with 29 points.

Stefen Mugosa of Incheon United [KLEAGUE]

On Sunday, Stefan Mugosa of Incheon United played what is likely his last match in the K League against FC Seoul after Mugosa inked a deal with Vissel Kobe in the Japanese top-tier league last week after four and a half years with the Incheon club.

After the match ended in a 1-1 draw, Mugosa thanked the Incheon fans and teammates.

"I don't know what can I say," said Mugosa on Sunday. "I want to say a big thanks to the fans. Look, they come in this numbers and support us like always. I need to say a big thanks to them.

"I love my teammates so much... I will support them like always because I love this club and like the fans so much, this is what I can say."

Mugosa leads the K League with the most points, scoring 14 points in 18 matches this season. In total, Mugosa has scored 68 goals in 129 matches for the Incheon club.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]