Pohang Steelers reclaim top spot with 4-2 win over Gangwon

Football

Published: 02 May. 2024, 12:25 Updated: 02 May. 2024, 16:48

Pohang Steelers reclaim top spot with 4-2 win over Gangwon

The Pohang Steelers celebrate a goal by Jeong Jae-hee during a K League 1 match against Gangwon FC at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon on Wednesday. [POHANG STEELERS]

The Pohang Steelers beat Gangwon FC 4-2 on Wednesday, snatching the top spot on the K League 1 table from Gimcheon Sangmu while Incheon United snapped a four-game winless run with a decisive 3-0 victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Steelers winger Jeong Jae-hee put on a show at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon, making it 3-0 by the 62nd minute with a hat-trick.

Gangwon pulled the score back to 3-2 by the 83rd minute with goals from Yang Min-hyuk and Jung Han-min, but Lee Ho-jae added No. 4 for the Steelers in the 90th minute, sealing the three points that allowed the Pohang side to reclaim the top spot on the table.

Gimcheon, who recorded a goalless draw with Daejeon Hana Citizen in Daejeon on Tuesday, are now one point behind the Steelers, with 20.

The military club is tied on points with defending champions Ulsan HD, but Ulsan edge Gimcheon out by goals scored — the second deciding factor.

Only one point separates the top three teams — the Steelers, Ulsan and Gimcheon — this season, which is a contrast to the early days of last season when Ulsan sat eight points clear at the top of the table.

Over in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Tuesday, FC Seoul cut their four-game winless streak with a 2-0 victory over Suwon FC and moved two spots up to seventh.

FC Seoul midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, center, celebrates scoring a goal during a K League 1 match against Suwon FC at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

FC Seoul star Jesse Lingard was not in the squad again due to a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-March, but he still watched the match from the stands.

Jesse Lingard smiles after FC Seoul beat Suwon FC 2-0 in a K League 1 match at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Ulsan, meanwhile, managed a 2-1 comeback win against Daegu FC in Daegu, with Choi Kang-min scoring his first goal for Ulsan that later turned out to be the winner.

Ulsan’s victory pushed Daegu down to the bottom of the table. Daegu have been on a poor run this season with one win, five draws and four losses under their belt.

Ulsan HD Choi Kang-min, center, celebrates scoring a goal during a K League 1 match against Daegu FC at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

New manager Park Chang-hyun took the helm on April 23, but has yet to secure his first win

Incheon thrashed Jeonbuk 3-0 at home, pushing the southwestern club that has dominated the league for decades down two spots to eighth.

Jeonbuk have escaped from the bottom of the table, which they hit last month, but their performance has been inconsistent in the absence of a permanent manager. Interim manager Park Won-jae has led the team since then-manager Dan Petrescu resigned last month.

Down in Jeju, Gwangju FC ended their six-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over Jeju United.

Escaping the relegation zone will be ideal for Gwangju, who now sit in 11th place on the 12-team table, as the club will also have the AFC Champions League Elite schedule that starts in September — right as the K League season enters the home stretch.

The K League will be back in action over the weekend.

FC Seoul will take on reigning champions Ulsan in the capital on Saturday, followed by a clash between the Steelers and Jeonbuk at Pohang Steelyard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

Suwon will take on Gangwon at home the following day, while Incheon will travel south to face Gimcheon.

Last-place Daegu will fly down south to play Jeju on Monday, and Gwangju will face Daejeon at home.

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