Gangwon FC squeeze into top six as K League splits for final stretch

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Gangwon FC squeeze into top six as K League splits for final stretch

Published: 19 Sep. 2022, 14:37 Updated: 19 Sep. 2022, 15:27

Kim Young-bin of Gangwon FC, center, celebrates after scoring against Jeju United on Sunday at Chuncheon Songam Stadium in Chuncheon, Gangwon. [KLEAGUE]

Gangwon FC made it into the top six on the K league table after a narrow 2-1 victory over Jeju United on Sunday.

The K League 1 clubs have now played 33 matches this season, with the 12 teams now split into two groups for the final stage of play. The top six teams will now compete for the championship title, while the bottom six will fight to avoid regulation.

This is the first time in three years that Gangwon has reached the top six, after narrowly avoiding relegation last year.

The top five teams, Ulsan Hyundai FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers, Incheon United and Jeju United, had already locked in their spots in the top group prior to Sunday.

In the K League, the second-to-last team from the K League 1 competes in a playoff each year with a runner-up from the K League 2. If the K League 2 club wins, they are promoted and the K League 1 club relegated. The K League 2 club that competes in that match are determined through a series of earlier playoffs.

The second-to-last K League 1 club was Gangwon last season. Gangwon finished five points ahead of last-place Gwangju FC to narrowly avoid automatic relegation, and then beat K League 2 club Daejeon Hana Citizen 4-1 after a big comeback in the second leg of the promotion-relegation playoff to secure their spot in the top tier this season.

This year, it was center-back Kim Young-bin who put Gangwon one goal ahead of Jeju to earn them the sixth spot in the top tier.

On Sunday, Gangwon put on an effective performance, controlling only 37 percent of the ball but managing to make 15 shots with six on target. Two of those were converted by Kim, who scored in the 42nd and 65th minutes. While Jeju tried to keep up with a goal from Seo Jin-su in the 90th minute, it wasn't enough to overturn the score.

Prior to Sunday, it was Suwon FC who was in the sixth spot with 44 points, with Gangwon trailing behind by two points. The odds were against Gangwon however, as Suwon only needed a draw against Ulsan to stay in sixth place while Gangwon both needed to win and for Ulsan to beat Suwon.

Lee Chung-yong celebrates after scoring Ulsan Hyundai's second goal against Suwon FC on Sunday at Ulsan Munsu Stadium in Ulsan. [YONHAP]

Ulsan beat Suwon FC 2-0 on Sunday, with Leonardo and Lee Chung-yong each finding the back of the net. With the win, top club Ulsan stays five points ahead of second-place Jeonbuk, who also added a win on Sunday, 3-2 against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

While top club Ulsan are trying to win their first league championship since 2005, Jeonbuk are the defending champions and have the most titles. Jeonbuk have won the title nine times in the last 12 seasons — including last year. In 2012 and 2016, Jeonbuk finished runner-up.

In the bottom half of the table, Gimcheon beat Incheon 1-0 on Sunday to step up to 10th place.

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings tie with Gimcheon on 34 points, but slip to 11th on goal difference.

Seongnam FC held the Pohang Steelers to a 1-1 draw on Sunday but remain in the automatic relegation spot at 25 points.

The K League is aiming to wrap up the season by the end of October, as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicks off in mid-November. Before entering the final stretch the league is scheduled to stop for an international break so national team players can join the Taeguk Warriors for two upcoming friendlies.

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