K League R24 - Win to nil
Four of our six games this game week ended in clean sheets for the winning teams. While Daejeon continued their habit of taking leads and surrendering them and Suwon FC took apart a listless Incheon
The Hyundai Derby ended with an unexpected win for bottom club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as the new signings/returning players made the difference and changed the mood. That win took them off the bottom with new signing Andrigo getting a superb assist and late clincher. Daegu’s own new/returning players couldn’t have the impact as they went down 1-0 at home to Gwangju FC. They now are one off bottom with Daejeon again for the 3rd game running lose the lead and Pohang took all 3 points to return to the league summit. Pohang overtake Gimcheon who were kept at bay by FC Seoul who eeked out a one nil home win largely down to 17-year-old Kang Ju-hyuk’s persistence. Undoubted team’s of the season Gangwon FC and Suwon FC earned the weekend’s biggest wins with the latter taking 3 points away at Incheon in a 4-1 win crowned off by Lee Seung-woo’s last goal for Suwon before he moves to Jeonbuk this week, while Gangwon earned a 4-0 home win over a tired Jeju United with Yang Min-hyuk running the show.
Goal of the Round
A well worked set piece with a controlled 20 yard belter from a 18-year-old. Gangwon’s 2nd by Yang Min-hyuk was heavenly. A word too for the beautiful team move for Gangwon’s 3rd too.
Player of the Round
Remember the name - Yang Min-hyuk, his days in K League may be numbered as the interest from the Premier League persists. First brace of his career for the teenager and he came very close to a hat-trick.
Match of the Round
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 Ulsan HD (0.73 Xg - 0.91 Xg)
Goes down as the game of the round more down to magnitude of the win than quality on the pitch with defending champions Ulsan HD a shell of their former self and completely dominated in the 2nd half. Andrigo ‘s pearler of an assist for the opener as Tiago’s attacking instincts took him to the near post beyond the attentions of Kim Ki-hee to stoop in with the header. Andrigo’s late goal gave the home side the win that they fully deserved. New signing Yago’s league debut didn’t go to plan with Adam Martin’s replacement giving away more fouls than anything else and easing the pressure on the league’s worst defence. Ulsan HD look likely to appoint a new manager this week with Kim Pan-gon favourite, and the timing could not be more pertinent with performances certainly not up to the usual standard.
MOM Andrigo
UP NEXT 2 away trips next Friday with Jeonbuk away at high-flying Gangwon FC and Ulsan taking the trip to the island to face Jeju United.
Incheon 1-4 Suwon FC (0.51 Xg - 1.85 Xg)
The loss of Kwon Kyung-won and impending loss of Lee Seung-woo did nothing to stammer an in-form Suwon FC as they took advantage of tepid Incheon forced into a number of mistakes but also hampening themselves with bizarre decisions having Shin Jin-ho in a forward role. This result will certainly increase pressure on Incheon to deliver a new manager before the next game and importance on who that is with a relegation battle looking likely.
MOM Jeong Seong-won
UP NEXT Incheon have the home Gyeongin Derby with FC Seoul while Suwon FC are away at Gwangju FC.
Gangwon FC 4-0 Jeju United (2.46 Xg - 1.47 Xg)
A leggy Jeju were blown away by a rampant Gangwon, who completely outclassed and outplayed their opponents under the lights in Gangneung. Jeju had to play midweek in monsoon condiitons and the difference in freshness was clear to see but the quality of Gangwon’s goals were superb as well. Yang Min-hyuk rampant, Kim Dong-hyun in his first appearance since returning from the army was controlling, and Tuci back from his hamstring issue commanding at the back.
MOM Yang Min-hyuk
UP NEXT Friday home games for the pair against Jeonbuk and Ulsan respectively.
Daegu FC 0-1 Gwangju FC (1.72 Xg - 0.92 Xg)
Daegu were perhaps unfortunate to lose here and make it 6 games without a win but their first defeat in 3 games. Gwangju continued their up-and-down season making it L-W-L-W-L-W in their last 6 league games but impressively their 2nd back to back 1-0 away win
MOM Beka
UP Next Gwangju FC are at home to Suwon FC while Daegu FC have a 6-pointer against Daejeon at home.
FC Seoul 1-0 Gimcheon Sangmu (1.07 Xg - 0.87 Xg)
FC Seoul squeezed past the league leaders Gimcheon in a game of fine margins. FC Seoul had the better of the first half and were right to feel aggrieved with a goal disallowed for a foul prior to free kick being wrongly assessed to rule out the goal. Second half saw the balance of play shift with the home side sitting deep for almost the entire half and countering after the early 2nd half goal courtesy of fine endeavor from 17-year-old Kang Ju-hyuk to set up Han Seung-gyu who then teed up Iljutchenko whose composure made it look easy to fire home from 8 yards. The German league top scorer then pointed to Kang for the assist assist and the departing sub Palocevic for the crowd’s approval.
MOM Yoon Jong-gyu
UP NEXT FC Seoul have the local derby at Incheon United while Gimcheon are away at Pohang.
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1-2 Pohang Steelers
Third game in a row where Daejeon took the lead and sat back on a 1-nil lead and were left ruing that decision as Pohang for the 2nd time this season came back from 1-nil down here to win 2-1. Pohang go back to the top of the table and Lee Ho-jae continues his fine form in front of goal.
MOM Lee Ho-jae
UP NEXT Daejeon are away at 11th placed Daegu FC while Pohang Steelers are at home to Gimcheon.