Steelers push undefeated streak to six after beating FC Seoul 4-2

Football

Published: 15 Apr. 2024, 13:56 Updated: 15 Apr. 2024, 16:31

Steelers push undefeated streak to six after beating FC Seoul 4-2

The Pohang Steelers' Shin Kwang-hoon, center left, vies for the ball with FC Seoul's Stanislav Iljutcenko during a K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Saturday. [YONHAP]

The Pohang Steelers extended their unbeaten streak to six games with a 4-2 win over FC Seoul in a week that saw the top three K League 1 teams each secure three points.

League leaders Steelers were resilient against FC Seoul in the capital on Saturday, scoring three goals in a row after being one down with the board at 2-1. Steelers forward Heo Yong-jun scored the opener but FC Seoul’s Son Seung-beom and Willyan Barbosa responded with a goal each to put the capital side up by the 66th minute.

Steelers captain Wanderson was largely impactful in the comeback victory, making effective crosses and assisting two goals by Lee Ho-jae and Park Chang-yong.

Goal No. 4 by Jeong Jae-hee in stoppage time sealed the 4-2 win, allowing the Pohang side to remain at the top of the table.

The Steelers’ impressive run this season comes despite multiple changeups to the squad ahead of the 2024 season.

The team brought in new players and manager Park Tae-ha after losing multiple aces like the team’s top scorer last season Zeca and manager Kim Gi-dong, who left to join FC Seoul.

Over a month into the season, Park seems to have found the tactics that work for the current squad.

FC Seoul, on the other hand, have yet to find their groove under manager Kim, who dusted the Steelers with magic last season. The Pohang side won the 2023 Korean FA Cup — now called the Korea Cup — and managed a runner-up finish in the league.

Former Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard, who joined FC Seoul in February, has also failed to make much of an impact on the team.

FC Seoul midfielder Jesse Lingard watches a K League match against Gimcheon Sangmu from the bench at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on April 3. [NEWS1]

The English midfielder has recorded zero goals and assists in three matches and has been sidelined for the past four games due to a knee injury, and recovery from surgery over the weekend will force him to miss another month of K League action.

Defending champions Ulsan HD were also in action on Saturday and secured the biggest victory of the season with a 4-0 win over Gangwon FC at home thanks to a double by forward Joo Min-kyu.

Ulsan stayed in third place with Saturday’s win, and second-place Gimcheon Sangmu also kept their position with a 2-0 win over Jeju United on the same day.

Gimcheon’s successful run in the early days of the season is a bright sign ahead of the second half when the military club will lose multiple players like Goo Bon-cheol and Kim Hyeon-ug upon the end of their military service in July.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, meanwhile, secured their first league victory of the season after beating Gwangju FC 2-1 at home on Saturday, jumping from the bottom of the table to 10th place on the 12-team table.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Song Min-kyu celebrates scoring during a K League 1 match against Gwangju FC at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Saturday. [YONHAP]

The nine-time K League 1 champions have had one of the worst season starts in history, going six games winless and bidding farewell to manager Dan Petrescu. The team, led by interim manager Park Won-jae, have yet to announce a permanent replacement.

Four other teams played on Sunday.

Suwon FC beat Daejeon Hana Citizen 1-0 thanks to the winner by Lee Jae-won. Daejeon hit the bottom of the table after Sunday’s match, having recorded one win, two draws and four losses so far.

Over in Incheon, Incheon United and Daegu FC shared one point after a 1-1 draw. Daegu have also struggled this season, having only secured one win against Gwangju on March 31.

The K League will continue this week, with league leaders Steelers facing second-place Gimcheon in Pohang, North Gyeongsang on April 20.

Suwon will take on Jeju at home, and FC Seoul will play Jeonbuk in the capital.

Gangwon will then play Incheon in Chuncheon, Gangwon the following day, before a clash between Daejeon and Daegu at DGB Daegu Bank Park.

Defending champions Ulsan do not have a league match this week, as the game against Gwangju on April 20 was rescheduled to May 15 due to the ongoing Champions League schedule.

Ulsan will face Yokohama F. Marinos in the first leg of the semifinals at home on Wednesday.

Correction: An earlier version of this article displayed a headline suggesting the Pohang Steelers had recorded six straight wins. In fact, the Pohang Steelers have gone six straight games without a loss.

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