Ulsan keep distance from runners-up after 3-3 draw with Daejeon

Football

Published: 29 May. 2023, 16:45 Updated: 30 May. 2023, 08:40

Ulsan keep distance from runners-up after 3-3 draw with Daejeon

Ulsan Hyundai's Joo Min-kyu, left, shoots during a K League game against Daejeon Hana Citizen at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Sunday. [YONHAP]

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai ended their six-game winning streak after a 3-3 thriller with Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sunday, while second-place FC Seoul secured three points with a victory over Gangwon FC on the same day.

Ulsan faced Daejeon — the team that handed Ulsan their only loss of the season on April 16 — at home for the second clash with Daejeon of the 2023 season and failed to get revenge on the newly-promoted team.

The league leaders started the game on the right foot thanks to an own goal by Kim Min-duk in the 20th minute.

Daejeon, however, bounced back four minutes later with Leandro Ribeiro scoring a volley inside the penalty box to make it 1-1.

Masatoshi Ishida rode that momentum and scored in the 32nd minute to snatch the lead, followed by his second in the 42nd minute to end the first half 3-1.

Ulsan attempted multiple shots on target to turn things around in the second half and Joo Min-kyu scored with a header that started from a free kick in the 77th minute.

Joo did not stop there and found the back of the net again in the 88th minute with a shot inside the penalty box.

Joo looked for his hat-trick but failed to score the winner, and Ulsan shared a point with Daejeon in the end.

The two goals in Sunday’s game made Joo the joint top scorer alongside FC Seoul’s Na Sang-ho with eight goals.

Ulsan still remained as league leaders with 11 points clear on top of the table.

FC Seoul, who looked to close the gap with Ulsan, played Gangwon in the capital and grabbed three points after Willyan Barbosa’s sole goal in the 27th minute secured a 1-0 win.

FC Seoul's Willyan Barbosa, left, dribbles during a K League game against Gangwon FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Four teams were in action the day before the league’s top two teams’ fixtures.

Jeju United, who had managed four wins and one draw in their past five league games, managed a 2-1 win against last-place Suwon Samsung Bluewings at home and stayed in third place with the same amount of points as second-place FC Seoul, who have more goals scored — the second deciding factor when teams are tied on points.

Jeju United's Isnairo Reis, right, dribbles during a K League game against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju, in a photo shared on Jeju's official Facebook account on Saturday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Elsewhere in the league, Daegu FC and Incheon United shared a point after a 2-2 draw in Daegu.

Daegu’s Edgar Silva struck twice in the 50th and 56th minute to make it 2-1, but his side conceded the equalizer in injury time to Hong Si-hoo.

Daegu remained in sixth place, and Incheon maintained their 10th position following the draw.

Gwangju FC, who played Sunday, swapped their positions with Suwon FC after a 2-0 victory over Suwon — Gwangju in eighth and Suwon in ninth.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’s clash with the Pohang Steelers did not take place on the weekend and was yet to be finished on Monday as of press time Monday.

Last season’s runners-up Jeonbuk have struggled so far this season, having recorded five wins, three draws and six losses as of press time Monday.

Their key striker Cho Gue-sung, who has missed matches since March, is set to make his return and will likely start the game against the Steelers.

After Jeonbuk’s game against the Steelers, they will take on Ulsan in Jeonju, North Jeolla, on Saturday, followed by the Suwon derby at Suwon World Cup Stadium — the clash between Suwon FC and the Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Jeju will play Gangwon at home, while the Steelers will travel west to face Gwangju at Gwangju Football Stadium.

Daejeon will take on Incheon the next day also at home.

Daegu’s game against FC Seoul at DGB Daegu Bank Park will be the last match of the week.

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