FC Seoul climb up to second as Gwangju put on a show

FC Seoul snatched second place on the K League table from the Pohang Steelers with a 2-1 victory over Jeju United on Saturday, while defending champions Ulsan Hyundai maintained their top spot with an unbeaten run in the early few weeks of the season

Ulsan Hyundai's Gustav Ludwigson, center, shoots during a K League game against Suwon FC at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Sunday. [NEWS1]

FC Seoul snatched second place on the K League table from the Pohang Steelers with a 2-1 victory over Jeju United on Saturday, while defending champions Ulsan Hyundai maintained their top spot with an unbeaten run in the early few weeks of the season.

The capital side found a chance to score first when Hwang Ui-jo shot from outside the box in the 8th minute, but Jeju United Goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun made short work of the attempt.

Jeju’s Seo Jin-soo, who was substituted on in the 12th minute, found an opportunity in the 24th minute and volleyed the ball toward the goal, but it hit the crossbar.

FC Seoul countered in the 39th minute with Na Sang-ho passing the ball to Hwang, but the forward’s shot hit the post, missing the chance to score his debut goal for the capital side.

Both teams struggled to score until the middle of the second half, but FC Seoul got on the scoreboard in the 66th minute with an own goal scored by Jeju’s Kim Bong-soo from a corner.

Song Ju-hun, however, tied things up in the 92nd minute and a draw seemed like the end result. That was not the case though, as Seoul's Aleksandar Palocevic scored the winner in the 95th minute to end the game at 2-1.

FC Seoul's Aleksandar Palocevic, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winner in a K League game against Jeju United at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju in a photo shared on FC Seoul's official Facebook account on Saturday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Saturday’s win puts FC Seoul in second place with nine points. Jeju, who have yet to secure a win this season, remain in 10th place, having recorded two draws and two losses.

Over in Gwangju on Saturday, the newly promoted Gwangju FC proved that they are a team to watch this season as they thrashed Incheon United 5-0.

Albanian winger Jasir Asani opened the scoring in the 8th minute, with Eom Ji-sung making it two in the 19th minute.

The second half was even more one-sided as Lee Hee-gyun scored No. 3 in the 49th minute, before Asani scored No. 4 in the 68th minute. The Albanian then completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute, securing a remarkable 5-0 victory.

Gwangju moved three spots up to fifth place with the win, while Incheon went two positions down to seventh.

Meanwhile, the Pohang Steelers, who played against Gangwon FC at home on Saturday, recorded a 1-1 draw.

The draw came when the Steelers’ Lee Ho-jae scored the crucial equalizer in the 90th minute after conceding a goal to Jefferson Galego in the 18th minute.

Saturday’s result saw the Steelers drop two spots to fourth, while lifting Gangwon one position to 11th.

Sunday’s games also offered some excitement, with defending champions Ulsan and last season’s runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors both in action.

Jeonbuk suffered a 2-0 loss to Daegu FC, slipping further down the table after a disappointing start to the season.

Daegu FC players celebrate after Kim Jin-hyuk's first goal in a K League game against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu on Sunday. [YONHAP]

The loss came despite Jeonbuk having more possession and the same amount of shots as Daegu. It saw Jeonbuk drop two spots to eighth, while elevating Daegu up to sixth.

Korean national football team manager Jurgen Klinsmann was at the game, analyzing some of the players alongside his technical advisor Cha Du-ri.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the Korean national football team's new manager, top, watches the K League game bewteen Daegu FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with his technical advisor Cha Du-ri at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Ulsan, on the other hand, retained the top spot with a 3-0 victory over Suwon FC at home. They were dominant throughout the game, recording far more shots on target than the visiting team.

Gustav Ludwigson scored Ulsan’s first goal in the 24th minute, before Joo Min-kyu’s second in the 52nd minute and Seol Young-woo’s No. 3 in the 81st minute.

Suwon FC went two positions down to ninth after the loss.

Their local rivals, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, also suffered a defeat: 3-1 to Daejeon Hana Citizen.

The Bluewings fell to last place on the table and Daejeon went one spot up to third.

The newly promoted Daejeon have yet to lose a game with two wins and two draws so far.

The K League resumes on April 1 after the international break, during which the Korean national football team plays two friendlies against Colombia and Uruguay.

Some of the K League players will join the national team squad to play against Colombia on Friday, before clashing with Uruguay on March 28.

Once the players return on April 1, Jeonbuk will face the Steelers at home, with Gwangju facing Suwon FC in Gwangju and Incheon United taking on Daegu in Incheon.

FC Seoul will travel to Daejeon to play the third place club.

Ulsan fly to Jeju Island for their game the next day, with the Bluewings and Gangwon playing the final game of the week.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]