K League Weekly - Round 1 Review
Look Back at the Opening Weekend
The first K League weekend of the 2024 season is in the books. It’ll will go down as the joint lowest in terms of goals since the league changed to a 12-team format in 2014. There was only 9 goals amassed in 6 games over the holiday weekend in South Korea. The 94,460 spectators, who braved near freezing conditions, may have been short-changed in terms of goals but it was weekend that saw some great debuts, some super-saves, and superb support in the stands.
Gwangju and Ulsan will end the weekend the happiest with both putting in the most impressive performances, although don’t tell their manager, Lee Jung-hyo, that as he said he was disappointed with the 2-0 home win over Jesse Lingard’s FC Seoul in the Englishman’s K League bow. Gimcheon and Suwon FC join those two in the win table with Gangwon, Jeju, Jeonbuk and Daejeon all drawing 1-1.
Ulsan HD 1:0 Pohang Steelers (Xg 1.24 vs 0.34)
The defending champions got off to a flying start with a comfortable win over East Coast rivals Pohang Steelers, who are yet to win under new manager Park Tae-ha.
Each side had a goal rightly chalked off in the first half for offside but it was the home side in the ascendency. A goaless first half where Ulsan had 68% of possession didn’t keep the 28,683 (minus a strong away following) waiting long into the second half. In the 51st minute Japanese midfielder Ataru Esaka sent a teasing cross from the left that went all the way into the bottom corner. Esaka didn’t hide the fact that he didn’t mean it and Pohang coach Park called in an “absurd” goal. Pohang to their credit rallied with the lively Jorge on his league debut coming within inches of turning home a ball across goal from half-time sub Kim In-sung. Ulsan then began to find space on the break with Eom Won-sang terrorising the Pohang backline with his speed and should’ve added at least an extra goal. He did manage to be sent sprawling by Australian Jonathan Aspropotamitis on his debut who was sent off as a result.
Ulsan make it 3 wins from 3 this season in all competitions while Pohang search for that first win under their new manager; having exited the Asian Champions league at the Last 16. The one positive for Pohang was the return of Oberdan from his knee injury.
Ulsan now face their title rivals Jeonbuk in the ACL quarter final this week.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1:1 Daejeon Hana Citizen (Xg 1.64 vs 0.74)
Subs were the key for Jeonbuk here with Song Min-kyu and Ahn Hyun-beom combining to rescue a point after Daejeon had led for much of the match.
Daejeon weren’t interested in letting Jeonbuk have it their own way on their home patch to start the season. A new look Daejeon team started with a whole new back 3 (4 of the 5 defenders inc. wingbacks) and a brand new spanking engine room in the midfield. New, and recently appointed, captain Lee Soon-min on debut was most impressive winning 22 recoveries and driving the team forward from the centre of the park. Latvian forward Vladislavs Gutkovskis put his miserable 2023 behind him with a well taken opening goal after recovering from a serious knee injury. The 6 foot 2 striker hit the bar in the second half as Daejeon threatened to put the game to bed. Jeonbuk have been reknowned for their late late shows at home in the K League and this time was no different as 2 subs, Song Min-kyu and Ahn Hyun-beom, were able to combine in the box for a 86th minute equaliser.
Jeonbuk now meet their biggest rivals Ulsan in the ACL before going to the new look Suwon FC at the weekend. Daejeon continue on the road in game week 2 at Jeju United.
Gwangju FC 2:0 FC Seoul (Xg 1.26 vs 0.62)
The story will be about Jesse Lingard’s debut in the K League but it should really be about the Gwangju train that keeps on rolling. Fully desrved 2 nil win to start the season as they look to build on their best ever finish.
Gwangju were much the bettter side in the opening half of the season as FC Seoul’s new manager Kim Gi-dong struggled to get his team combining in a 4-4-2 that lacked cohesion. Gwangju’s new signing, scouted on WyScout, Gabriel Tigrao was running Kim Jin-ya ragged down the right side, while Gwangju’s press and build up was creating a number of openings. They still needed a helping hand, literally, for the opener as Lee Heui-kyun’s 20 yard effort, following back-to-front build up, only went in after Seoul keeper Choi Chul-won misjudged the ball’s flight. One nil at half-time is the least the hosts deserved but FC Seoul came out fighting in the second half and had most of the ball. With Jesse Lingard summoned from the bench for his debut on the 77th minute, the capital club was piling on the pressure. Lingard played on the right side and was involved in a few threatening deliveries to striker Iljutchenko. The former Man United winger did pick up a yellow card that was briefly checked by VAR with the possibility of being upgraded to a red. Gwangju had to wait until the 97th minute to seal the win with new man Gabriel steering home from a corner.
Gwangju are at home to Gangwon FC next as they look to continue that bright start while FC Seoul have the Gyeongin derby against Incheon for Lingard’s home debut, which is sure to be a fiesty affair.
Gangwon FC 1:1 Jeju United (Xg 1.08 vs 0.85)
2 evenly matched teams make it a 3rd draw in 3 meetings, but should Gangwon have had their late goal ruled out?
A fast start from the hosts saw them score after just 31 seconds. The goal has been credited to Lee Sang-heon but 17-year-old Yang Min-hyuk deserves all the praise after the winger’s burst down the left and it was his shot that took a deflection off Lee. Disasterous start for new Jeju coach, veteran Kim Hak-beom. The Islanders worked their way back into the game and scored through an excellent low volley from debutant Italo following a half cleared corner. Both sides had their moments in the 2nd half but it’s the hosts who will feel most aggrieved with the point. A debatable foul was called on Gabriel for touching the Jeju gk Kim Dong-jun before Lee Sang-heon had thought he scored a brace on debut.
Gangwon head to Gwangju next weekend, while Jeju host Daejeon with both looking for their first win of the season.
Incheon United 0:1 Suwon FC (Xg 0.35 vs 0.33)
Late penalty from Lee Seung-woo puts to bed an off-season of K2 rumours as Kim Eun-jung gets his first win as a club manager.
The Xg tells us this was one for the purists. Suwon Fc were keen to turn over a new leaf after one of the worst conceding records in K League history in 2023. The new look side put in solid defensive display with debutants Kwon Kyung-won, Kim Tae-han and goalkeeper Ahn Joon-soo all impressing. The introduction of Lee Seung-woo gave them an attacking impotus with link up with Yoon Bit-garam key to getting Suwon the 3 points. A ill-judged trip inside the box by Eon Ji-hak on the Suwon captain in the dying minutes gave Lee Seung-woo the chance to seal the win with the last kick of the game. Incheon goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo’s mind games aside, the former Barcelona youth man Lee Seung-woo didn’t take the bait and duly dispatched the pk for the win.
Incheon take the short trip to the Seoul World Cup Stadium, while Suwon host Jeonbuk.
Daegu FC 0:1 Gimcheon Sangmu (Xg 1.23 vs 0.58)
The final game of the weekend saw the only newly promotated side, Gimcheon, take on Daegu in front of a sold out crowd. Daegu’s curse of never winning the opening K League 1 game of the season continues.
The home side were left to rue a number of missed opportunites in the first half with Barcelos a constant threat on the break and down the left. Gimcheon took their time to find their feet with their first shot on target coming in the 77th minute. With their tails up, and the half-time sub of Barcelos for Cesinha not having the desired effect for the host, Gimcheon scored the only goal of the game from a superb delivery by Gimcheon sub Kim Min-jun from a corner and at the back post captain Won Du-jae found space to head home.
Gimcheon face champions Ulsan next, and Daegu are away at Pohang with both coming off 1-0 defeats.