Pohang inch closer as Ulsan drop second game in a week

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Pohang inch closer as Ulsan drop second game in a week

Published: 17 Jul. 2023, 16:35 Updated: 17 Jul. 2023, 17:46

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings celebrate after Jeon Jin-woo's goal against Ulsan Hyundai during a K League game at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Saturday. [YONHAP]

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai lost their second game in a row on Saturday, losing 3-1 to the last place Suwon Samsung Bluewings as the second-place Pohang Steelers narrowed the gap with a win over Jeju United.

Ulsan, who had lost to Incheon United in a midweek fixture the previous Wednesday, looked to redeem themselves against the Bluewings at Suwon World Cup Stadium, but failed to make any impact on the game.

The league leaders’ defense seemed shaky, allowing Jeon Jin-woo to open the scoring for the home side with a header in the 39th minute.

The Bluewings rode that momentum through the second half and made it 2-0 in the 73th minute a goal from Fejsal Mulic outside the penalty box.

Their attacks persisted, giving Ulsan no chance of turning things around in the remaining time.

Kim Ju-chan then scored No. 3 in the 90th minute in style with a shot inside the penalty box from a tight angle.

The 3-0 score looked like the final result, but Ulsan’s Valeri Qazaishvili pulled one back for the team in injury time and ended the game 3-1.

Saturday’s victory was only Bluewing’s third win this season, with their last coming against Incheon in May.

They still remained in last-place on the table despite the victory, just one point below Gangwon FC with 16 points.

Ulsan, on the other hand, recorded back-to-back loses for the first time this season, but still stayed in the top spot, 12 points clear of the Steelers.

FC Seoul, who were also in action on Saturday, only managed one point after a 1-1 draw with Gangwon, failing to narrow the gap with the Steelers.

Elsewhere, Gwangju FC and Daegu FC also shared one point following a 1-1 draw in Gwangju.

The Steelers’ victory over Jeju at Pohang Steelyard on Sunday saw the most excitement and goals on the weekend — six in total.

The Pohang Steelers' Wanderson celebrates scoring a goal against Jeju United during a K League game at Pohang Steelyard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Pohang dominated from the start, getting on the scoresheet in the 15th minute with Goh Young-joon’s goal.

No more goals followed in the first half despite multiple attempts from both sides, but the second half saw both the action and the goals.

Jeju tied things up with Kim Ju-gong’s equalizer in the 54th minute, followed by Yeon Je-woon’s goal in the 70th minute, making it 2-1.

The Steelers bounced back two minutes later and took the score to 3-2 with two goals from Alex Grant and Wanderson in the space of just one minute.

Jeju attempted to score the No. 3 to secure a point, but the Steelers instead ended the game up 4-2 after a Kim Seung-dae's effort in injury time.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors also secured three points after a 1-0 win against Suwon FC in Jeonju, North Jeolla, holding on to fourth on the table.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players celebrate after Gustavo Sousa's goal against Suwon FC during a K League game at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Last season’s runners-up Jeonbuk seem to be back in form after struggling in the early days of the season, when they fell all the way down to 10th.

New manager Dan Petrescu’s attacking football is the reason behind the recent success, with the team having scored seven goals in the past five league fixtures.

The team has managed three wins, one draw and one loss in the five games.

Meanwhile, Incheon beat Daejeon Hana Citizen 2-0 and sit in ninth place, tying with seventh-place Daejeon and eighth-place Jeju on 30 — the K League rules stipulate that more goals scored is the next deciding factor when teams are tied on points.

The K League will be back in action on Friday and Saturday, with league leaders Ulsan taking on Jeju in Ulsan, followed by the Steelers’ clash with Jeonbuk in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

Gwangju will travel north the next day to face Suwon FC in Suwon, Gyeonggi, while the Bluewings will play Gangwon at Gangwon Sports Complex.

FC Seoul will take on Incheon in the capital, with the match between Daejeon and Daegu at Daejeon World Cup Stadium rounding off the week.

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