Goals at a Premium over Holiday Weekend in K League
Round 3 of K League played over the holiday weekend saw big crowds, awful pitches, bad weather and closely fought battles on the pitch
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K League Round 3
Three days of K League action took place over the March 1st Independence Movement celebrations, but three goalless draws that won’t live long in the memory. It’s the first time since Round 37 in 2021 that the league has seen more than two scoreless games in a single round.
The matches that did produce goals saw three home teams edge out narrow victories. Champions Ulsan HD continued their streak of 1-0 home wins over Jeonbuk, making it five in a row, and in doing so handed Gus Poyet his first defeat at the helm of their Hyundai rivals. Gwangju FC secured their first win of the season with a comeback victory over newly promoted FC Anyang, thanks to a brace from their Albanian star, Jasir Asani.
In the only other game with a goal, Daejeon Hana Citizen left it late, but winter signing Joo Min-kyu netted his third of the season to secure a deserved win over struggling Suwon FC.
The remaining three games ended 0-0, with away sides Jeju United, Gimcheon Sangmu, and Daegu FC likely the happiest with a share of the spoils.
Goal of the Round
Zinedine Bojanic (Ulsan HD)
The Swedish midfielder is putting some magnificent performances together early in the season, and this strike outshines the four other goals scored this weekend—though it could easily win in most weeks. The significance of the goal may become clearer later in the season, as Ulsan secures back-to-back wins with two clean sheets.
Player of the Round
Zizou Bojanic (Ulsan HD)
That man again - Bojanic is making a mockery of former Ulsan HD coach Hong Myung-bo’s decision to use the central midfielder sparingly. Current manager Kim Pan-gon has given more trust and consistency to Bojanic’s selection and he’s being repaid in abundance. Both Korean managers often point out some defensive weaknesses to the Swede’s game, but none of that is evident here:
Match of the Round
Gwangju FC 2-1 FC Anyang
(1.47Xg vs 1.87Xg)
It makes sense to choose the game with the most goals as the match of the round. Gwangju’s comeback win was their first of the season and puts them in good spirits ahead of their ACLE tie with Vissel Kobe. FC Anyang’s search for a second K1 victory continues, but they will be pleased with a more expansive performance than in their last two outings, along with another goal from striker Bruno Mota. The game turned on the winger connection between the in-form Oh Hu-seong and star man Jasir Asani, who once again produced magic for the home team—albeit with his second goal benefiting from a deflection. That’s three goals in two games for Asani, and even more impressive was the two assiststoday added to the three goals in the last three games by 25 year-old Oh Hu-seong, who should be knocking on the manager’s door asking for more starts.
MOM Asani (Gwangju FC)
Up Next Gwangju have their double header with Kobe in the ACLE with their league game postponed with FC Anyang at home for the first time against Gimcheon Sangmu.
Ulsan HD 1-0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(1.97Xg vs 0.51Xg)
The consistency of these games recently has been quite impressive, even with both coaches experiencing it for the first time. It was, of course, Poyet’s first Hyundai Derby, but it was also Kim Pan-gon’s first home one for Ulsan. The home team put in a strong performance, nullifying the threat of Jeonbuk’s wide players while creating several chances of their own. In a game with 31 fouls, it’s no surprise that it took a banger to win it in the end. (see above)
MOM Darijan Zidane (Ulsan HD)
Up Next Ulsan play Jeju at home with Jeonbuk also at home against Gangwon.
Pohang Steelers 0-0 Daegu FC
(1.26Xg vs 0.36Xg)
Pohang will be relieved to have avoided another defeat, but it could just as easily have been their first win of the season—one that would have further eased the pressure on manager Park Tae-ha. The home side came closest with Cho Jae-hun’s effort in the first half. Cho was perhaps showing a little rust in his first minutes of the season when put through on goal is shot was well blocked by Daegu FC goalkeeper Oh Seung-hoon but it really should’ve been one-nil.
Lee Tae-seok, who put in another solid performance, thought he had opened the scoring early in the second half, but his goal was ruled offside. Daegu FC struggled to get going offensively, possibly due to some rough treatment of star man Cesinha, and didn’t register a shot on target until the 83rd minute. Kwon Tae-young’s tight-angle effort was well tipped over by Hwang In-jae.
Despite the frustration, the Steelers picked up their first clean sheet in 16 games and now have a two-week break to build on their first point of the season
MOM Lee Tae-seok (Pohang Steelers)
Up Next Pohang have a break with their Gwangju game postponed so their next game is against Jeonbuk away. Daegu at home to Daejeon.
Gangwon FC 0-0 Jeju SK
(0.69Xg vs 0.84Xg)
Jeju SK and Gangwon FC played out a draw in tough conditions on a very brown pitch. The rain was relentless throughout the 90 minutes, and the game took a while to get going. The second half saw the better chances, with Jeju substitute Seo Jin-seo snatching at a clear opportunity after a defensive mistake by Lee Gi-hyuk.
At the other end, stand-in goalkeeper An Chan-gi pulled off a good save to deny Gangwon’s exciting prospect Lee Ji-ho’s header in the 75th minute. The draw means both teams now have identical records of one win, one draw, and one defeat.
MOM An Tae-hyeon (Jeju SK)
Up Next Jeju are away at champions Ulsan while Gangwon have an away game at Jeonbuk.
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1-0 Suwon FC
(1.3 Xg vs 0.57Xg)
Daejeon bounced back from their disappointing home opening defeat against Ulsan HD with a late 1-0 win over struggling Suwon FC. Despite dominating large parts of the game, Daejeon created few clear-cut chances. Yun Do-young, returning from the AFC U20 Asian Cup, was lively and set up a good opportunity for Kim Hyeon-wook, whose effort struck the foot of the post.
A makeshift Suwon FC midfield, featuring Kim Jae-sung making his debut in central midfield instead of his usual right-back position, struggled to create opportunities—leaving much of the attacking responsibility to Anderson once again. Defensively, Suwon FC looked solid despite fielding their third different center-back pairing in as many games.
However, a late chance proved decisive. Anton Krivotsyuk’s ball across found Jeong Jae-hee, whose close-range effort was miraculously blocked on the line by Park Cheol-woo, only for the rebound to fall to Joo ‘Harry’ Min-kyu, who side-volleyed into an empty net. Cue the Harry Kane celebration and a welcome second win—and second clean sheet—of the season for the Citizens. Suwon FC remain winless along with Pohang Steelers.
MOM Anton Krivotsyuk (Daejeon)
Up Next Suwon FC host FC Seoul and Daejeon are away to Daegu FC
FC Seoul 0-0 Gimcheon Sangmu
The post-match discussion has centered around the condition of the turf at Seoul World Cup Stadium, with players constantly repairing it mid-game, the referee and Jesse Lingard stumbling over it, and its poor state no doubt contributing to a damp squib of a match.
There was little of note at either end, with FC Seoul’s best effort coming from a solo run by substitute Moon Seon-min. Risk-free football was the order of the day, and even the introduction of FC Seoul’s new signing, Marko Dugandzic, failed to change that. Gimcheon will be happiest after a third straight away game, while FC Seoul will hope Dugandzic can adapt as soon as possible to the league.
MOM Yazan (FC Seoul)
Up Next FC Seoul have a trip to winless Suwon FC next while Gimcheon have their 4th away game in a row against FC Anyang