Ulsan draws 1-1 with Daejeon… Pohang, with 62
points, narrows the gap to ‘6 points’ with Ulsan.
Gangwon FC wins against Jeonbuk, escapes last place
, Incheon, takes 6th place thanks to Hernández’s ‘greatest goal’

안전놀이터Ulsan Hyundai, the leader in professional soccer K-League 1, failed to secure a win in its third match against Daejeon Hana Citizen. If Ulsan defeated Daejeon, they would be the first K-League 1 club to win against all teams this season, but Daejeon, which is particularly strong against Ulsan, did not lose this time either.

Ulsan drew 1-1 with Daejeon in the K League 1 2023 30th round home game held at Munsu Soccer Stadium in Ulsan on the 16th. By only adding 1 point, the gap with second place Pohang Steelers (56 points) narrowed to 6 points.

In Daejeon, about 1 minute and 20 seconds into the game, Kim In-gyun received a pass given by Massa after running through the midfield and shot with his left foot to avoid goalkeeper Jo Soo-hyuk, who came forward from the left side of the penalty area.

In the 29th minute of the first half, Ulsan striker Ju Min-gyu scored a penalty kick, leveling the score at 1-1. With this goal, Joo Min-gyu (14 goals) became the sole leading scorer, surpassing Daejeon Thiago, who was tied for first place.

Ulsan replaced Rubikson, Lee Chung-yong, Kim Young-kwon, and Barco in the second half and took the game to the next level. In the 38th minute of the second half, Bako scored a volley from the right side of the penalty arc, but the goal was canceled due to obstruction of the goalkeeper’s vision. Ulsan, who had the opportunity to take a penalty kick in extra time in the second half, used Ju Min-gyu as the kicker again, but this time he was blocked by Daejeon goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun.

On this day, Pohang beat Suwon FC 2-0 at home thanks to Zeka’s multiple goals and continued their undefeated streak of 9 games (5 wins, 4 draws). Zeka scored a goal from Wandelsson’s cross from the left side in the 22nd minute of the first half. Then, in the 44th minute of the first half, he dribbled down the right side from near the halfway line and scored an additional goal with a right-footed shot.

eonbuk Hyundai lost 1-3 to Gangwon FC, falling into a 5-game winless streak (3 draws, 2 losses). Jeonbuk, which took a 1-0 lead when Gustavo scored a penalty kick 5 minutes into the game, later allowed three goals. With coach Jürgen Klinsmann of the men’s national soccer team watching the game, Gangwon succeeded in escaping from last place by defeating Jeonbuk despite heavy rain that day.

Incheon United defeated Jeju United 2-1 thanks to a superb goal by Hernández. Incheon rose one place to 6th place (43 points), which is the Maginot Line of ‘Final A’ (league 1st to 6th places), the top split.