Ulsan share a point with Seoul in quiet week at top of K League

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Ulsan share a point with Seoul in quiet week at top of K League

Published: 28 Aug. 2023, 15:44

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

FC Seoul's Stanislav Iljutcenko, center, celebrates scoring a goal during a K League game against Ulsan Hyundai at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sunday. [NEWS1]

League leaders Ulsan Hyundai drew 2-2 with FC Seoul on Sunday while the second-place Pohang Steelers shared a point with last-place Gangwon in a quiet week for the top of the K League table.

Fifth-place FC Seoul performed well against Ulsan in the capital, despite playing under interim manager Kim Jin-kyu — taking the helm after former manager An Ik-soo’s resignation last week — for the first time.

FC Seoul manager An Ik-soo resigns after five games went winless

The capital side created solid chances in the beginning to open the scoring and got on the scoresheet in the ninth minute with a Stanislav Iljutcenko goal.

FC Seoul’s attack persisted, but no more goals followed in the first half.

The second half saw more action from Ulsan, recording multiple shots on target. The league leaders then found a breakthrough when Joo Min-kyu slotted in the ball in the 64th minute that goalkeeper Choi Chul-won failed to clear from a shot by Valeri Qazaishvili.

Ulsan turned things around in the 69th minute with Joo finding the back of the net again with a tidy shot inside the penalty box.

With the game looking set to go to Ulsan, FC Seoul winger Willyan Barbosa broke through in stoppage time and smashed in a shot, scoring a solo goal in style in the 95th minute to end the game at 2-2.

There was some excitement at the other end of the table, where Gwangju FC thrashed the Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4-0 on Sunday thanks to a brace by Eom Ji-sung and one goal apiece from Lee Hee-gyun and Jasir Asani.

The Steelers faced last-place Gangwon on Saturday and only walked away with one point after a 1-1 draw. The Pohang side had more ball possession during the match, but were unable to score a much-needed winner through the end.

The Pohang Steelers' Hong Yun-sang, left, celebrates scoring a goal with Oberdan during a K League game against Gangwon FC at Gangneung Sports Complex in Gangneung, Gangwon in a photo shared on the Steelers' official Facebook page on Monday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Daegu FC also played on Saturday against Jeju United in Daegu and secured a 1-0 victory with a goal by Go Jae-hyun.

Incheon United were in action on Friday against Suwon FC and grabbed three points after a 2-1 win. Suwon’s Lee Seung-woo opened the scoring in the 45th minute, but Cheon Seong-hoon levelled in the 48th minute, before captian Oh Ban-suk scored the winner in the 96th minute.

Suwon FC's Lee Seung-woo, center, celebrates scoring a goal during a K League game against Incheon United at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Friday. [K LEAGUE]

Elsewhere, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors drew with Daejeon Hana Citizen in Jeonju, North Jeolla and ceded the third spot to Gwangju.

Jeonbuk and Gwangju both have 42 points and Gwangju edge them out by goals scored — the second deciding factor when two teams are tied on points.

The K League will continue this week with Daejeon taking on Suwon FC at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on Friday. Gangwon will travel south to play Daegu on the same day.

The Bluewings will then take on FC Seoul at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi the next day, before Incheon United clash with the Steelers in Incheon later in the evening.

League leaders Ulsan will play Gwangju on Sunday at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan. The match between Jeju United and Jeonbuk in Jeju will wrap up this week’s fixtures.

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