Ulsan cling on to top spot as FC Seoul moves into second

Football

Published: 24 Apr. 2023, 15:55 Updated: 24 Apr. 2023, 19:16

Ulsan cling on to top spot as FC Seoul moves into second

Ulsan Hyundai players celebrate after Valeri Qazaishvili's equalizer during a K League game against the Pohang Steelers at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Ulsan Hyundai held onto the top spot despite taking their first draw of the season against the Pohang Steelers, while FC Seoul snatched second with a win over the Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Saturday’s game between Ulsan and the then second-place Steelers at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan was a chance for the Steelers to catch up to the league leaders — with the gap between the two sides at three points before the game.

Goh Young-jun handed the Steelers the lead in the 13th minute with a ball slotting into the back of the net after a through ball from Sim Sang-min.

Goh then stretched that lead in the 54th minute with a shot from right outside the penalty box, making it 2-0.

Ulsan did not stay quiet, however, responding quickly with a Joo Min-kyu goal in the 60th minute from a set piece.

Ulsan broke through again with moments left on the clock, with Valeri Qazaishvili forcing the draw in the 89th minute to allow Ulsan to remain on top of the table.

The Steelers, who were looking to tie with the league leaders, instead slipped one spot down to third since FC Seoul had beaten the winless Suwon Samsung Bluewings a few hours earlier to climb up in the standings.

The winless Bluewings put on another unimpressive performance against FC Seoul in the capital, conceding three goals in the loss.

FC Seoul’s Na Sang-ho opened the scoring in the 37th minute, followed by Hwang Ui-jo’s second league goal of the season in the 52nd minute and No. 3 from Aleksandar Palocevic in the 81st minute.

FC Seoul's Hwang Ui-jo, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during a K League game against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on Saturday. [YONHAP]

The game ended with a 3-1 loss for the Bluewings after Fejsal Mulic’s goal in the 88th minute.

The Bluewings’ local rivals, Suwon FC, managed a 2-2 draw with Incheon United in Incheon on the same day.

Elsewhere in the league, newly-promoted Daejeon Hana Citizen lost 1-0 to Daegu FC, suffering their second loss of the season to go one position down to fourth place.

Sunday’s fixtures saw less excitement as winless Gangwon FC drew 0-0 with Gwangju FC.

Last season’s runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who have struggled this season compared to last season, beat Jeju United 2-0, securing their third victory of the year.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players celebrate after Song Min-kyu's goal during a K League game against Jeju United at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju on Sunday. [KOREA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE]

The K League teams will be back in action on Tuesday and Wednesday, before playing again on the weekend.

Ulsan will travel to Incheon on Tuesday to take on ninth-place Incheon. The Steelers will play the winless Bluewings at home at the same time. FC Seoul will then play Gangwon at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon the next day.

Gwangju will face Jeju at home, followed by Suwon FC’s clash with Daegu and Jeonbuk’s game against Daejeon.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]