FA Cup quarterfinal spots taken all by K League 1 teams

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FA Cup quarterfinal spots taken all by K League 1 teams

Published: 25 May. 2023, 11:29 Updated: 25 May. 2023, 11:38

Ulsan Hyundai players celebrate during an FA Cup match against the Jeonnam Dragons at Gwangyang Football Stadium in Gwangyang, South Jeolla, in a photo shared on Ulsan's official Facebook page on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Eight K League 1 sides all advanced to the quarterfinals of the Korean FA Cup on Wednesday, ending the lower division teams’ dream of winning the silverware in the round of 16.

Ten K League 1 sides, including Ulsan Hyundai, Incheon United, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the Pohang Steelers, who joined the round of 16 by finishing in top four in the league last season, were in action and all earned the results they needed — apart from Daegu FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen — over second and third division teams despite the absence of some regular starters.

K League 1 leaders Ulsan started a game against the Jeonnam Dragons of the K League 2 in Gwangyang, South Jeolla, without defender Kim Young-gwon and midfielder Um Won-sang.

Ulsan struggled in the absence of the regular starters and even conceded a goal first to Ha Nam in the 62nd minute.

Ulsan failed to score until injury time, but Lim Jong-eun scored the much-needed equalizer in the 92nd minute to force extra time.

They turned things around two minutes after extra time, with Martin Adam’s goal that marked Ulsan’s 2-1 victory in the end.

Ulsan’s win ended the Dragons’ vision of recreating the 2021 moment when they became the first-ever K League 2 side to win the FA Cup.

Two winningest teams in the FA Cup — Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Jeonbuk with five times — continued their challenge for their sixth FA Cup title.

The Bluewings, who sit in last place on the K League 1 table, faced another K League 1 side Daegu at home and secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Kim Ju-chan’s goal in the 24th minute.

Defending champions Jeonbuk, on the other hand, clashed with Paju Citizen — the only K3 side in the round of 16 — and won the game 5-2 after extra time with the help of Gustavo Sousa, who managed four goals alone.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Gustavo Sousa celebrates scoring during an FA Cup match against Paju Citizen at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla, in a photo shared on Jeonbuk's official Facebook page on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, Incheon United thrashed Gyeongnam FC of the second division 3-0 in Incheon, and the Pohang Steelers did the same to Seongnam FC in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.

K League 1’s Jeju United played the league competitors Daejeon and secured a spot in the quarterfinals after a 4-3 victory.

Gwangju FC also joined the last eight with a 1-0 win over Seoul E-Land, and so did Gangwon FC, with a 3-2 victory against Gimpo FC.

The quarterfinal matches with all K League 1 sides will take place on June 28, with Incheon taking on the Bluewings and the Steelers facing Gangwon.

Ulsan will play Jeju, while defending champions Jeonbuk clash with Gwangju.

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