K League R4 - Round up
Ulsan blow a 2 goal lead while Dan Petrescu teeters on the edge of the sack
A return to K League action after the international break saw the perennial title contenders Jeonbuk and Ulsan face off, while Incheon and Daegu earned a first win to plunge Daejeon into early crisis mode, and leave Gwangju with two defeats on the bounce, respectively. Pohang had another late late show to see off Jeju away from home and Gimcheon mauled Suwon FC at their home ground. While a Jesse Lingard-less FC Seoul were fortunate to collect at point at Gangwon.
Moment of the week:
Jeonbuk fans calling Son Jun-ho’s name on the 28th minute, his shirt number, following his release after almost a year being held in China on false allegations of Bribery.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-2 Ulsan HD
For the first time in Hong Myung-bo’s 4-year reign Ulsan have failed to win while being 2 goals up. You have to go back to the 1st September 2019 for the last time that happened, yet an under pressure Dan Petrescu will take solice in being the side to do it after the early set back of losing Hong Jeong-ho to another hamstring injury and then Koo Ja-ryung making a defensive error to add to the many others this season for Jeonbuk. Ulsan took a two goal lead through the in-form and soon to be military bound Lee Dong-gyeong and then filling in for their fatigued international strikers Lee Ji-hyun with a deflected goal. It was a lead which was harsh on the home team, but you could sense the tension in the ground approaching half time. Former Ulsan man Lee Dong-jun stooped in between the Lee Myung-jae and Ludwigson playing CB and LWB, not their usual positions, to get one back just before the half and bring some respite to the fans. The halftime show with K Pop superstar Psy energised the fans and within minutes of the restart the had the chance to equalise from the spot. Dejavu as Thiago faced Jo Hyun-woo at the penalty spot for the second time already this season…another miss from Tiago, once more not hitting the target as his pk hit the outside of the post. With hope beginning to fade for Petrescu’s hopes of keeping his job, Moon Seon-min popped up with the equaliser and gracefully celebrated without doing his signature bunny hop dance thing.
MOM - No real standouts but Lee Dong-jun goal and threat down Ulsan’s left led to a number of chances including Moon’s equaliser
Jeonbuk face Jeju on the island on Wednesday as they look to end their worst ever start to the league.
Ulsan are away to winless Daejeon but they failed to beat them last season.
Incheon United 2-0 Daejeon Hana Citizen
The home side came out on top in the battle of the winless teams on a mostly brown pitch. Gerso got the first after good work from the in-form Park Seung-ho and then an own goal by Lee Jung-taek sealed a fairly even contest for the home side in the 2nd half. Daejeon lost striker Gutkovskis and the manager was very self-critical post-most for selecting the Latvian international after he had travelled to Europe midweek. Daejeon had their moments in this game but results and performances haven’t been good in the first 4 rounds while veteran and former Korean international Ju Se-jong sits on the bench; you wonder if manager Lee Min-sung is on thin ice.
MOM - Park Seung-ho, 20-year-old really starting to shine
Incheon go away to Gwangju midweek where they lost 5-0 around the same time of the season last year.
Daejeon search for their first win against unbeaten champions Ulsan, who lost their unbeaten record away to Daejeon last season.
Jeju United 0-2 Pohang Steelers
Late drama and Pohang Steelers are starting to go hand-in-hand. Jeong Jae-hee was the man once again to knock his side into the lead after a mistake by Kim Dong-jun, who had been enjoying his 200th game. Sub Lee Ho-jae continued to cause problems when moments later his knock down fell to fellow sub Baek Sung-dong to seal the win. The first 70 minutes had been quite a tepid affair, but the quality of subs proved the difference maker as Jeju slumped to their 2nd straight 2-0 defeat.
MOM Lee Ho-jae introduction for the K League’s offside machine Inzagi Jorge was the difference maker
Pohang host Suwon FC next at home, who they’ve defeated in the last 5 home games ever since Suwon returned to K1
Jeju host Jeonbuk with both teams desperate for a win to turn things around
Suwon FC 1-4 Gimcheon Sangmu
Undefeated Suwon were brought back to earth with a humbling 4-1 defeat against top of the table Gimcheon. Lee Jung-min grabbed his first career double, while Kim Hyeon-wook added to his goal tally to be joint top of scoring charts with his fourth of the season before a late penalty put the icing on the cake. The scoreline was harsh on Suwon who had most of the ball and were guilty of missing a number of chances.
MOM Lee Jung-min deserves the accolade for getting his first double of the season.
Gimcheon continue on the road with an away game against FC Seoul
Suwon FC travel to Pohang with their record very poor there in recent times.
Gangwon FC 1-1 FC Seoul
First double red of the season as the sides finished with even numbers and even on the scoreline. Jesse Lingard had some pain in his knee so missed out here but could return on Wednesday for the home, don’t believe the fake news about him being dropped, and FC Seoul could’ve done with him because they were toothless going forward. Sub Willyan put the away team into a surprise lead with his first goal of the season in his first game. Gangwon got their deserved equaliser after good work from Gabriel and poor keeping led to Lee Sang-heon getting his 3rd of the season with the rebound. Two rash moments from Lee Ji-sol of Gangwon and Sulaka of Seoul saw both sides finish with 10 men with the capital side more than happy to get their first away point of the season after a similarly poor outing to their last game away at Gwangju when they went down 2-0.
MOM Lee Gi-hyuk continues to fill in well at CB and was key in Gangwon’s build up play.
Gangwon are at home to Daegu next as they look for their first win of the season
FC Seoul host surprise league leaders Gimcheon on Wednesday with Lingard hopefully making his return
Gwangju FC 1-2 Daegu FC
The final game of Round 4 served up an intriguing stylistic battle with possession based Gwangju vs counterattacking Daegu. The home side were dominant for the most of the first half though Daegu posed some threat on the break and from corners. A mistimed Yoshino tackle gave rookie Moon Min-seo the chance to score his first professional goal on his professional debut, something which is great to see but makes a bit of a mockery of the league in my opinion to give him the penalty - thankfully he scored. Yoshino made amends with his 2nd of the season on the stroke of half-time in a rare Daegu venture forward. The 2nd half brought more of the same with Gabriel going closest on a number of ocassions for the home side but ultimately a tale as old as time with Cesinha’s impeccable cross meeting Edgar’s stooping head gave Daegu their first win of the season, as Daegu rode their luck late on.
MOM Yoshino - despite conceding the penalty the character to get the equaliser and absolutely marshalled the midfield.
Daegu go to winless Gangwon midweek
Gwangju host Incheon looking to get back on track.