From Injury Hell to Injury Time Ecstasy x2
Story line central in the K League this past weekend with 2 goals from 2 players returning from injury nightmares and Son Jun-ho getting his 1st goal since his injust incarceration in China.
Round 27 in the K League was a special one; not only were we treated to some enjoyable games but the delivery of these moments are sure to live long in the memories of the players who made them. On top of that, we had some big moments at the top and bottom of the table with 11 games of the season to go. The main story lines were written on Saturday evening with the debuting Kwon Chang-hoon, of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on his return from an injury nightmare that has curtailed the 43-capped former Bundesliga midfielder’s career, scoring with an intended cross in the dying moments to give Jeonbuk a much needed 3 points. The 30-year-old certainly deserved that luck after 483 days of injury. Next up was Daejeon Hana Citizen’s Gutkovskis whose return was on the back of 2 major injuries suffered since joining in the summer of 2023 that has limited the tall Lativan striker to just 8 K League appearances. His last-minute winner off the bench could be crucial come the end of the season with Daejeon recording their first back-to-back wins of the season as a result.
Every story needs it’s bad guys and Shin Kwang-hoon (Pohang), Joo Min-kyu (Ulsan), Min Seong-jun and Kim Geon-hui (Incheon) with the former 2 players being most culpable, both receiving idiotic red cards, while the former 2 had a series of miscommunications that resulted in Min dropping a cross for Gutkovskis to finish in the last minute. Gangwon, Suwon FC and FC Seoul were the big winners in the top half while the bottom 3 won dragging Incheon United into the relegation battle while Jeju United will be looking over their shoulders with back-to-back 1-0 defeats. With all the individual storylines going around this weekend, it’s important to point out Gangwon FC reaching the 50 point mark for the first time since the 2019 season, and in doing so went 4 points clear at the top and in all in front of their biggest ever crowd. The game itself was the match of the round while round 27 itself could be pivotal come the end of the season and it will certainly be well remembered for all of the drama
Player of the Round
Kovacevic, buried his 2 headers that came either side of half time turning around the game for Gangwon FC and setting them on their way to the 3 points in front of the team’s biggest ever crowd. The Croatian probably should’ve had a hat-trick but nonetheless the 6 foot 1 striker gets the top player of the week award. Notable mentions for Asani (Gwangju FC), Son Jun-ho, Anderson (Suwon FC), Caio, Cesinha, Hwang Jae-won (Daegu FC)
Goal of the Round
No competition for this one although the world class Wanderson 25 yard free kick in off the bar deserves a mention, but add on 15 yards for this week’s winner. Kim Jae-woo, the Daejeon Hana Citizen centre back with the goal of his lifetime.
Match of the Round
Gangwon FC 3-2 Gwangju FC
A humdinger of a game that easily could’ve gone either way; it was a game that had everything and first time Gangwon have won when conceding first at home all season. They did so after not only conceding 1 but were 2 down when manager changed things on the left side opting for more pace to combat the influential Asani. Gangwon have conceded the 2nd most at home so are no strangers to that and always back themselves to score but were finding it tough against an inspired Kim Kyung-min in the Gwangju goal. The difference in this game ultimately came down to Gangwon taking their chances and the Gwangju centre back pairing of Byun Jun-su and Heo Yool performing very poorly. Byun can be forgiven for his sluggish performance after coming off the back of a big injury and was perhaps rushed back into completing his first full 90 since. Heo, a centre forward, continues to be exposed for positioning and lacking that sense of danger. The Gwangju manager, Lee Jung-hyo, bullishly dismissed any concerns when asked about his centre backs, stating that these two were his first choice pairing. Stubborn as that may be, Lee’s side came very close to equalising late on but Gangwon hung on to create a 4-point gap at the top of the league.
MOM Kovacevic/Asani both contributing heavily to the goals while both missed similar one on one chances.
UP NEXT Gwangju’s busy season starts now with the first of the two-legged semi-final against Ulsan in the cup and coincidently face them in the league on the weekend at home as well. League leaders are away to the resurgent FC Seoul.
Jeonbuk 2-1 Pohang Steelers (2.72 Xg - 0.32 Xg)
A deserved win for the home side but one that seemed unlikely with the bottom side in the league struggling in the 2nd half of the game, and they desperately needed that helping hand, well forearm, from Shin Kwang-hoon as the wily veteran, who had been excellent, lost the head and got sent off late on. The sending off gave Jeonbuk the momentum they had lost in the 2nd half, especially after a superb 25-yard Wanderson free kick, to go on and win it with subsitute Kwon Chang-hoon, on his debut, fortunately misguiding a cross into the top corner to send himself and the crowd into raptures. For Pohang it’s a 3rd defeat in a row and after mass changes for this one and another poor first half, their title tilt is badly faltering.
MOM Andrigo - another goal from the influential Brazilian following his summer move.
UP NEXT Jeonbuk are away to Incheon United in an early future bottom split showdown while Pohang try to put things back together in the cup with an away game in Jeju followed by a home game against Daegu FC.
Daegu FC 3-0 Gimcheon Sangmu (0.76 Xg - 2.8 Xg)
A night to remember in the heat at Daegu, putting an end to their 8 game winless run and matching the scoreline of their previous win in the league. Cesinha, Hwang Jae-won, Oh Seung-hoon and Caio were all standouts but the game easily could’ve swung the other way with Oh making a crucial penalty save minutes before a mix up in the Gimcheon defence and a poor recovery tackle from Kim Bong-soo led to a dealy Cesinha finished. The Brazilian was at the heart of everything going forward recording an assist along with his 2 goals while playing unusually in the number 9 position. However, his defensive compatriot Caio was also a busy man at the back repelling all Gimcheon had to throw at the team.
MOM Caio - Rock
UP NEXT Daegu are away at Pohang while Gimcheon will try to recover their form at home to Daejeon.
FC Seoul 1-0 Jeju United (0.5 Xg - 1.72 Xg)
A 4th win in a row for the new robust FC Seoul. Each victory has followed a similar pattern with the new look defence holding out though with a good bit of fortune. Al Arab and goalkeeper Kang Hyun-moo have shored things up at the back while it was the other new signing Lucas Silva who blasted the team ahead. A familiar 2nd half low block was enough to see the game out with Jeju far from prolific this season, though Yuri will want that double chance from 6 yards back that should’ve seen the islanders get a deserved share of the points.
MOM Kang Hyun-moo
UP NEXT FC Seoul face league leaders Gangwon FC at home next while Jeju fly back to the island for their midweek cup tie at home to Pohang before hopping back on the plane to face Suwon FC away in the league
Daejeon 2-1 Incheon United (0.65 Xg - 1.23 Xg)
Gutek’s (Gutkovskis) comeback goal saw Daejeon get their first back-to-back win of the season and drag Incheon into the relegation battle. The away side may have been the better side but the last-minute mix up between substitute goalkeeper Min Seong-jun and Kim Geon-hui condemned new manager Choi Young-geun to his 1st defeat. The injury to goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo leaves them withouth their number 1 for 3 weeks and the repeated poor communication between Min and Kim Geon-hui will raise real questions in the meantime.
MOM Bobsin
UP NEXT Incheon have big game at home to bottom of the table Jeonbuk while Daejeon are away at Gimcheon.
Ulsan HD 1-2 Suwon FC
Suwon’s 2nd ever win over Ulsan was in the main down to Joo Min-kyu’s moment of madness, smashing an elbow into Lee Jae-won’s face off the ball is not befitting of a national team player and he was rightly given his marching orders via VAR. Moments later Suwon capitalised with a deflected looping Son Jun-ho hit from outside the box given the away side the lead moments before HT. Anderson rounding the goalkeeper after a superb through ball from Jeong Seung-won saw the away side double their lead in an open 2nd half before a late rally from Ulsan almost snatched a point. Ludwigson speculative long range effort should’ve been saved by Ahn Jun-su while Yago’s quest for his 1st Ulsan goal continues, the Brazilian somehow putting wide a late header from inside the 6 yard box. Kim Pan-gon suffered his first defeat as Ulsan HD manager and along with Pohang’s Kim Tae-ha may regret the mass rotation ahead of their FA Cup ties.
MOM Anderson
UP NEXT Ulsan are away to Gwangju in the cup midweek and then the league at the weekend. Suwon FC have Jeju at home.