Suwon FC avoid relegation with 2-1 win against Seongnam

Football

Published: 13 Oct. 2022, 15:11

Suwon FC avoid relegation with 2-1 win against Seongnam

Lars Veldwijk of Suwon FC, center, celebrates scoring a goal during a match against Seongnam FC at Suwon stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Suwon FC have secured their place in the top tier next season after beating Seongnam FC 2-1 on Wednesday.

At Suwon stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi, the home side opened the scoring as soon as the match started, with Kim Geon-ung finding a loose ball in front of the net and firing it home just two minutes into the match.

Almost 45 minutes later, Yu In-soo of Seongnam ended the first half with an equalizer from outside the box.

With the score level at 1-1, both clubs were desperate to find a second goal in the second half. Nine minutes in it was Lars Veldwijk who powered through for Suwon, heading in the ball to score the winner.

That was the goal that matted in the end as neither team was able to add any more until the whistle blew. With the win, Suwon FC have now moved far enough outside of the relegation zone to secure their place in the top tier for next year regardless of the result of the two remaining matches.

Suwon FC players celebrate beating Seongnam FC at Suwon stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Wednesday to secure their place in the top tier next season. [NEWS1]

In the K League, the bottom club from the K League 1 is automatically relegated and the top team from K League 2 takes their place in the top tier. The second-to-last K League 1 team competes in a playoff each year with one of the runners-up from the K League 2. If the K League 2 club wins, they are promoted and the K League 1 club is relegated.

This year, the bottom club that will be relegated is Seongnam FC. After being held to a 1-1 draw against Gimcheon Sangmu on Oct. 9, Seongnam FC has been stuck at the bottom of the standings and will be relegated to the second tier regardless of the results of their two remaining matches.

Gwangju FC of the K League 2 will take that spot in the first tier next season. Gwangju secured the top spot in the second tier after Anyang lost 1-0 to Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sept. 21 and ensured their return to the K League 1 a year after heading down.

Starting this season, in addition to the previous promotion-relegation playoff, the 10th K League 1 club — the second-from-last in the 12-team league — will need to play the winner of a series of playoffs played between the third to fifth K League 2 clubs. Only the top nine K League 1 clubs will be guaranteed to stay in the top tier without playing a promotion-relegation playoff.

Suwon FC now has 48 points after 13 wins, nine draws and 14 losses, 10 points ahead of 10th-placed Suwon Samsung Bluewings, ensuring that they will not finish lower than ninth this season. The Bluewings have 38 points after nine wins, 11 draws and 16 losses.

All 12 K League clubs will play their second-to-last match of the season on Sunday.

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