Ulsan beat Jeju 5-1 to stay at top of K League table

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Ulsan beat Jeju 5-1 to stay at top of K League table

Published: 12 Jun. 2023, 15:48 Updated: 18 Jun. 2023, 20:44

Ulsan Hyundai's Joo Min-kyu, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during a K League game against Jeju United at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Saturday. [K LEAGUE]

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai continued their dominance with a huge win over Jeju United on Saturday, while the Pohang Steelers held on to second place after drawing with third-place FC Seoul the following day.

Ulsan took on fourth-place Jeju, who had been on a solid run, at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium. The league leaders created a few changes early on and opened the scoring in the 31st minute with Valeri Qazaishvili converting a penalty.

The second half saw more excitement. Ataru Esaka scored Ulsan’s second goal with a swift diving header in the 52nd minute, before Um Won-sang scored a blinder for No. 3, making a solo run from behind the halfway line and finishing it in the penalty box.

Ulsan did not stop there, making it 4-0 with top-scorer Joo Min-kyu’s volley in the 70th minute.

Joo has been prolific this season with 10 goals scored so far in 18 league games.

Jeju’s Yuri Jonathan pulled one back in the 78th minute, but Qazaishvili scored No. 5 in the 90th minute to end the game 5-1.

Northwest of Ulsan, Daegu FC clinched a 3-1 victory over Suwon FC in Daegu on the same day and climbed two positions up to eighth place on the table while Suwon FC remained in 10th.

Over in Daejeon, there was little difference to be seen between the two new additions to the league — Daejeon Hana Citizen and Gwangju FC — with that game ending in a 1-1 draw.

There were three games on Sunday.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, who had struggled in the early days of the season, secured their third successive win in the league with a 2-1 victory over Gangwon FC in Chuncheon, Gangwon.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Cho Gue-sung, right, in action during a K League game against Gangwon FC at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon on Sunday. [K LEAGUE]

Cho Gue-sung, who had only managed two goals in eight league matches, scored a brace against Gangwon with a performance like last season, when he was the league’s top scorer with 17 goals.

Jeonbuk’s game on Sunday was the last match for interim manager Kim Do-heon, as new manager Dan Petrescu will take the helm starting this week.

Sunday’s victory allowed Jeonbuk to rise to fifth while Gangwon remained in 11th.

Over in the capital, FC Seoul took on the Steelers to reclaim second place, but failed to hold their 1-0 lead from Hwang Ui-jo’s goal in the 37th minute, conceding a last-minute equalizer to Ha Chang-rae.

FC Seoul's Hwang Ui-jo, left, passes the ball during a K League game against the Pohang Steelers at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

The 1-1 draw allowed the Steelers to hold on to second place, two points clear of third-place FC Seoul.

Meanwhile, the last-place Suwon Samsung Bluewings failed to secure their third victory of the season after a goalless draw with Incheon United in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

The K League will continue after the FIFA international break with the Bluewings facing FC Seoul at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon on June 24.

Jeju will then take on Daejeon in Jeju, followed by Jeonbuk’s clash with Gwangju at Gwangju Football Stadium. Ulsan will also be in action in a game against Daegu at home.

The Steelers will travel to Incheon the next day to take on Incheon, before Suwon FC play Gangwon in Suwon.

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