Ulsan keep six-point lead after 1-1 draw with Jeonbuk

Football

Published: 08 Aug. 2022, 16:10

Ulsan keep six-point lead after 1-1 draw with Jeonbuk

Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players clash during a K League game at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The long-awaited showdown between K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai and second-place club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday, leaving Ulsan with a comfortable six-point lead despite winning only two of their last five games.

Far more exciting was the action up in Suwon, Gyeonggi, where Suwon FC took a decisive 4-2 win over local rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Saturday in the Suwon Derby.

There were far fewer fireworks down in Jeonju, North Jeolla, where Ulsan visited Jeonbuk for the top-two playoff.

Ulsan's Um Won-sang got the visitors off to a fast start, scoring a screamer in the eighth minute to take an early lead. Powering his way through the defense, Um arrived on the corner of the six-yard box and sent the ball flying over Song Bum-keun for a powerful opener.

Ulsan were unable to capitalize on that early lead, however, slipping further back as the game went on until Modou Barrow was able to tie the score in the second half with a goal in the 59th minute. Neither team was able to get anything across in the final 30 minutes and the game ended at 1-1.

Barrow's appearance in the match came despite learning just hours earlier of the death of a close family member. Immediately after the game, Jeonbuk announced that he would be returning to Sweden with his family to attend the funeral.

Despite the low score, the rivalry between the two clubs was plain to see on the pitch, with eight yellow cards between them and 30 fouls.

There was a lot more action to see in Suwon on Saturday, where Kim Hyun scored a brace to lead Suwon FC to a comfortable win over their local rivals.

Playing at home, Suwon FC opened the scoring with a goal from Kim in the fourth minute, only for An Byong-jun to tie the score for the Bluewings 15 minutes later. Jung Jae-yong put Suwon FC ahead again shortly after the break, with Kim scoring his second in the 69th minute.

Ryu Seung-woo for the Bluewings got one back in the 86th minute, before Lars Veldwijk made it four for Suwon FC in injury time.

With the win, Suwon FC remain in sixth place in the K League, just inside the top bracket when the league splits next month. The Bluewings trail in 11th place.

Elsewhere in the K League, Gimcheon Sangmu beat Seongnam 4-1, Jeju United beat FC Seoul 2-0, the Pohang Steelers beat Gangwon FC 2-1 and Incheon United beat Daegu FC 3-2.

There were some changes on the table over the last week, with Incheon climbing up to fourth place while Jeju drop to fifth and Gangwon taking seventh while Seoul fall to eighth.

There will be two rescheduled games on Wednesday this week, as Suwon FC take on Jeonbuk and Gangwon face Daegu. Moving into the weekend, Ulsan will take on Daegu, Incheon will face Jeonbuk, Jeju will play Pohang, the Bluewings will take on Seongnam, Gangwon will play Suwon FC and Gimcheon will face FC Seoul.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]