Seoul thrash Jeonbuk as Gimcheon take first on the K League table

Football

Published: 01 Jul. 2024, 10:59 Updated: 01 Jul. 2024, 17:09

Seoul thrash Jeonbuk as Gimcheon take first on the K League table

FC Seoul forward Ronaldo Tavares celebrates scoring a goal during a K League 1 match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Saturday. [NEWS1]

FC Seoul trounced Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5-1 on Saturday to pick up a third straight win as military side Gimcheon Sangmu pipped Ulsan HD to take first place on the K League table.

The final goal of the FC Seoul rout came from the feet of new signee Ronaldo — not that one; or that one — who joined the club last month. The Portuguese player — full name Ronaldo Tavares — capitalized on a well-placed through ball from a halfway line and ran all the way to the penalty area to smash a shot into the back of the net in the stoppage time, sealing a 5-1 win at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla.

The goal came in only his second appearance for FC Seoul, having joined the squad on loan from Portuguese team Estrela da Amadora. The third-straight win came under the on-pitch leadership of Jesse Lingard, another new signee this season who has seen significant success since taking the armband a few weeks ago.

Saturday’s huge victory sent the capital side one spot up to sixth on the table, while it was the biggest loss of the 2024 K League 1 season for Jeonbuk and kept the nine-time K League 1 champions at the bottom of the table.

This season has seen one of the worst runs by the K League 1's winningest team Jeonbuk, who have been stuck in the relegation zone — 10th, 11th and last place — for the majority of the campaign.

Jeonbuk still have the second half of the season to escape the relegation zone, but failing to bounce back will result in their first relegation to the second division like the Suwon Samsung Bluewings last season.

The Bluewings faced automatic relegation to the K League 2 after struggling throughout last season and finishing in last place on the table.

In the K League 1, a last-place team faces automatic relegation to the second division, while 10th and 11th place sides play promotion-relegation playoffs against two K League 2 clubs to decide which teams secure berths in the top tier next season.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Gimcheon beat Daegu FC 2-0 at home and topped the table.

The remainder of the season will see whether the new Gimcheon players that joined the squad last month can continue the momentum from the first half of the campaign, with players like Goo Bon-cheol and Kim Jun-hong set to leave the military club upon the end of their service later this month.

Over in Daejeon, Suwon FC beat a struggling Daejeon Hana Citizen 2-0.

Three other fixtures took place on Sunday.

The Pohang Steelers claimed three points after a 2-1 win over defending champions Ulsan at home. Gwangju FC also secured a 2-1 win over Jeju United at home thanks to the winner by Gabriel Tigrao in the 89th minute.

The Pohang Steelers celebrate during a K League 1 match against Ulsan HD at Pohang Steelyard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The clash between Gangwon FC and Incheon United in Incheon was relatively tepid, but Gangwon still took three points after Yago Cariello scored the winner to seal a 1-0 win.

The K League will continue this week with reigning champions Ulsan traveling north to face Suwon on Friday. Incheon will face Gimcheon at home.

FC Seoul will fly down south to take on Jeju the next day, while Daegu will play the Steelers ay home.

Last-place Jeonbuk will then face 11th-place Daejeon on Sunday, and Gangwon will host Gwangju in Gangneung, Gangwon the same day.

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