K League First Stage Complete
Round 33 review with only five games to go and it was late goals that did the damage at the top and bottom of the table
We already knew the makeup of the top and bottom halves, but with the late goals we got the quintessential K League experience to wrap up the main stage of the league.
The main drama, of course, unfolded in the Daegu vs Jeonbuk match, where Daegu saw their 2-0 lead vanish, only to stage a stunning comeback from 3-2 down in added time to win 4-3. Ulsan HD took another step closer to securing their third consecutive title. Meanwhile, Jeju and Gwangju earned some breathing room in the bottom half, but the biggest winners were Daegu FC, as Incheon’s home defeat to Gangwon leaves them in a desperate position heading into the final split. Incheon are now 3 points adrift of a faltering Daejeon, and crucially, they have the fewest goals scored—a key tiebreaker over goal difference. Suwon FC salvaged some pride with a late equalizer away to Pohang Steelers, effectively ending Pohang’s slim title hopes. The same can be said for FC Seoul, whose defeat to Gwangju has dashed any remaining hopes of a title challenge.
Alternative Table (Xg)
Just for fun:
The alternative table, based on expected goals (xG), gives us a glimpse of what could have been if every team followed the xG law. There’s not much change in the bottom half, although Incheon would be in a far better position. Gwangju's wastefulness in front of goal is clear, as this table places them in second in the top half. Meanwhile, Gimcheon would be one place better off, while Daejeon would find themselves one place worse off.
Controversy of the Round
Goal of the Round
There was a lot of bad defending for the goals this weekend, so the strike that was most eye-catching probably goes to Jesse Lingard for his delightful little curler when faced up against two Gwangju FC defenders.
Player of the Round
Edgar, Ko Seung-beom, Yuri, and Lee Sang-heon all deserve recognition for their performances, but I have to give the nod to the languid Brazilian striker at Daegu FC. His impact off the bench was remarkable—scoring the late equalizer and then turning back the clock with some excellent wing play to assist the eventual winner. Edgar was the game-changer.
Match of the Round
Daegu FC 4-3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Xg 2.6 vs Xg 1.49)
This was quite the contest—played on a decent surface, which made it all the more enjoyable. A good old-fashioned ding-dong battle, with stakes even higher knowing that both teams will be fighting to avoid relegation in the final split. Daegu took the lead by capitalizing on some defensive errors from Jeonbuk. The away side roared back into the game with halftime substitutes Moon Seon-min and Lee Yeong-jae scoring, sandwiching an impressive equalizer from Ahn Hyun-beom. However, it was Edgar’s introduction off the bench that shifted the momentum back in favor of the home side, who leapfrogged their opponents in the standings. These two will meet again in the final split, and I, for one, can’t wait to see it.
MOM Edgar Silva (game changer)
Gwangju FC 3-1 FC Seoul (Xg 1.82 vs Xg 0.54)
FC Seoul boss Kim Gi-dong summed it up best: “the grass is so bad.” Credit to the home team, who, coming off their excellent win in Kawasaki in the ACL, managed to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone. FC Seoul, who haven’t had much luck against Gwangju this season, did score a late consolation goal. However, the manner in which they conceded today will be cause for concern in the final five games as they chase a top-three finish.
MOM Heo Yool (Gwangju)
Ulsan HD 2-1 Gimcheon Sangmu (Xg 1.76 vs Xg 0.94)
Another poor pitch, but that won’t matter much to Ulsan as they edge closer to the title. This come-from-behind victory felt like the pivotal moment Ulsan HD have experienced in previous title runs. While it wasn’t quite on the level of a Martin Ádám double, Ulsan, who were second best for much of the second half, stepped up and made some excellent incursions down Gimcheon’s right side. Kim Kang-san and Park Seung-wook will feel they should have defended better on both goals, but it’s hard to defend against an airborne Ko Seung-beom, who both started and finished the equalizer with a diving header. Summer signing Yago then sealed the win.
MOM Ko Seung-beom
Incheon United 1-3 Gangwon FC (Xg 0.6 vs Xg 4.14)
Lee Sang-heon doesn’t just wear braces—he scores them. This marked his fourth of the season, and the first time he’s done so off the bench, as the team’s top scorer didn’t start the game due to recent poor form. Gangwon were helped by Incheon’s Croatian defender Jonjić receiving what might be the most blatant red card of the season. Despite being down to 10 men, Incheon managed to equalize, giving Gangwon a scare. However, the provincial side retook the lead through a counterattack, benefiting from some of the weekend’s worst defending, as Yang Min-hyuk set up Lee Sang-heon for his first goal. Lee then sealed the game by dribbling almost unopposed into the box from a short corner and firing home.
MOM Lee Sang-heon
Pohang Steelers 1-1 Suwon FC (Xg 0.72 vs Xg 0.96)
Suwon FC remain the best away team in the league and have now taken their tally of late goals (after the 75th minute) to 16, half of which have been scored away from home—leading the league in this stat as well. Pohang will be disappointed not to have built on their lead, and the draw leaves them with ground to make up in the race for ACL football. Suwon FC, on the other hand, will be relieved to have halted their recent slump, thanks to Ji Dong-won’s excellent late header from captain Yoon Bit-garam’s free kick.
MOM Yoon Bit-garam.
Jeju United 2-1 Daejeon Hana Citizen (Xg 2.18 vs Xg 0.21)
Jeju refused to settle for a draw at home with a late winner. They remain drawless at home this season thanks to the late goal, while Daejeon’s slump continues as they were toothless in attack for the third straight game, relying on a bizarre own goal by Lim Chae-min. Gallego registered his first assist for the Islanders just before halftime when a lively Yuri Jonathan latched onto a through ball, rounded the keeper, and equalized. The added-time winner came from Daejeon’s failure to clear the ball despite multiple opportunities, eventually falling to Kim Ju-kong, who sealed the win. This victory eased some of Jeju’s relegation fears while casting doubt on Daejeon’s hopes of survival.
MOM Yuri