Gimpo FC, Seoul E-Land upset top-tier opponents to reach round of 16

FC Seoul and Suwon FC crashed out of the Korean FA Cup on Wednesday, losing to K League 2 sides Gimpo FC and Seoul E-Land in a third-round upset as six lower-league clubs advanced to the round of 16.

Gimpo FC's Jang Yun-ho, center, celebrates after scoring the equalizer during an FA Cup match against FC Seoul at Gimpo Solteo Soccer Field in Gimpo, Gyeonggi on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

FC Seoul and Suwon FC crashed out of the Korean FA Cup on Wednesday, losing to K League 2 sides Gimpo FC and Seoul E-Land in a third-round upset as six lower-league clubs advanced to the round of 16.

A total of 22 teams played in the third round Wednesday, with seven K League 1 sides joining the tournament for the first time this season.

FC Seoul, who rank third on the K League 1 and were FA Cup finalists last year, lost 4-2 on penalties to Gimpo, a team that was only promoted to the K League 2 last season, after a grueling 120 minutes.

FC Seoul struggled throughout the game after manager An Ik-soo opted to bench big names Hwang Ui-jo, Ki Sung-yueng and Na Sang-ho, presumably expecting the lower-ranked Gimpo to prove an easy target.

The K League 1 side struggled to grab the lead in the absence of those prominent players, ending the first half goalless.

FC Seoul broke through in the 56th minute with Kang Sung-jin’s opener, but conceded the equalizer to Jang Yun-ho in the 68th minute.

Neither side could score a much-needed winner even in extra time, forcing a penalty shootout.

FC Seoul's Hwang Hyun-soo and Lee Seung-jun missed a penalty apiece, but Gimpo’s players all found the back of the net, with Yun Min-ho scoring the last penalty to secure the 4-2 win on penalties, sending his side through the round of 16 for the first time since the club’s foundation in 2013.

Suwon FC, who rank sixth in the first division, also failed to claim a victory against Seoul E-Land.

Seoul E-Land's Bruno Oliveira, left, scores a free kick during an FA Cup game against Suwon FC at Mokdong Sports Complex Main Stadium in Yangcheon District, western Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Suwon opened the scoring first with Jang Jae-woong’s shot in the 21st minute. They went one man down, however, after defender Kwak Dong-joon received a red card for a rough tackle to E-Land’s Byeon Gyeong-jun in the 36th minute.

Suwon’s defense looked shaky with one man down in the second half and the club conceded the equalizer to Kwak Sung-uk in the 50th minute. E-Land then scored the winner as Bruno Oliveira managed a direct free kick in style in the 85th minute, ending the game at 2-1.

Suwon FC’s local rivals, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings — winless in last-place team in the first division — recorded their first victory of the season against the Ansan Greeners of the second division.

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings celebrate after scoring a goal during an FA Cup match against the Ansan Greeners at Ansan Wa Stadium in Ansan, Gyeonggi in a photo shared on the Bluewings' official Facebook page on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Bluewings’ attacks have been dull this season in the absence of Oh Hyeon-gyu — the key striker who left the club ahead of the 2023 season to join Celtic. They have only managed five goals in six K League fixtures, but scored three goals against the Greeners to win the game 3-1.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, the other K League 1 teams all recorded wins.

Jeju United, who have also struggled this season with just one win in the league so far, managed a 2-1 victory against K3 side Changwon FC.

Daejeon Hana Citizen — a newly promoted K League 1 side that has been in remarkable form to sit in fourth — displayed another outstanding performance, thrashing the K4 side Geoje Citizen 4-1.

The other newly promoted K League 1 team Gwangju FC managed a 2-1 win over Busan I Park of the second division.

Daegu FC also recorded a 2-1 victory over the second division team Cheonan City.

Elsewhere in the FA Cup, K3 side Paju Citizen pulled off a 2-1 victory against K4 team Dangjin Citizen, becoming the only team below the second division to advance to the round of 16.

The K League 2’s Gyeongnam FC beat the third division Siheung City 2-0. K League 2 Jeonnam Dragons, the winners of the 2021 FA Cup, recorded a 3-2 win over league rivals Chungnam Asan FC. Another match between second division teams — Seongnam FC against Gimcheon Sangmu — ended with a victory for Seongnam after a penalty shootout.

Eleven teams have advanced to the round of 16, where they are joined by the four highest-ranked K League 1 teams from last season: Ulsan Hyundai, Incheon United, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Pohang Steelers. The four top teams each year get a bye straight into the round of 16.

The final third round game between K League 1 side Gangwon FC and K League 2 side Chungbuk Cheongju FC was postponed due to the wildfires in Gangwon. The game will be replayed on May 2.

The round of 16 will be held on May 24. That round will see K League 1 clubs pitting against each other for the first time, with the Bluewings facing Daegu and Jeju taking on Daejeon.

Elsewhere in the round, Incheon United will play Gyeongnam, the Jeonnam Dragons face K League 1 leaders Ulsan, Seongnam will take on the Steelers, Jeonbuk face K3 side Paju and Seoul E-Land place Gwangju.

Gimpo will face either Gangwon or Cheongju.

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