Pohang reclaim second place as K League midweek action begins

Ulsan Hyundai held onto the top spot with their seventh win of the season on Tuesday, while the Pohang Steelers reclaimed second from FC Seoul in the first midweek action of the 2023 K League season.

Ulsan Hyundai's Martin Adam, right, in action during a K League game against Incheon United at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Ulsan Hyundai held onto the top spot with their seventh win of the season on Tuesday, while the Pohang Steelers reclaimed second from FC Seoul in the first midweek action of the 2023 K League season.

Four K League teams were back in action on Tuesday, only three days after their regular league games over the weekend.

League leaders Ulsan faced Incheon United in Incheon and secured the top spot with a 1-0 win thanks to Martin Adam’s winner in the ninth minute, which was Adam’s first goal of the season.

Ulsan’s seventh victory allowed manager Hong Myung-bo to set a new record as the fastest manager to record 50 wins with a single team in K League history.

Hong managed that record in 786 days, which is 14 days shorter than former record holder Choi Young-soo — the incumbent Gangwon FC manager who made the record with FC Seoul from 2018 to 2020.

Since Hong took charge of Ulsan in December 2020, he has recorded 50 wins, 22 draws and 13 losses.

Meanwhile, the Steelers, who played at the same time as Ulsan, also won 1-0 against the winless Suwon Samsung Bluewings at home.

Kim Seung-dae scored the opening goal in the fourth minute, handing the Steelers three points in the end.

The Pohang Steelers celebrate after winning a K League game against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang in a photo shared on the Steelers' official Facebook page on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Eight other K League sides played the next day.

FC Seoul faced Gangwon at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon and struggled against the team that had been winless this season.

Gangwon’s Park Sang-hyeok opened the scoring in the 24th minute and Jung Seung-young stretched that lead immediately after the second half, making it 2-0.

The capital side tied things up with Lim Sang-hyub’s two goals in the 52nd and 68th minutes, but Gangwon’s Lee Woong-hee scored the winner in the 90th, ultimately securing his side’s first win of the season.

Gangwon FC's Lee Woong-Hee, left, celebrates after scoring a goal during a K League game against FC Seoul at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Despite the victory, Gangwon remained in 11th place on the table while FC Seoul ceded second place to the Steelers and slipped down to fourth.

Elsewhere in the league, Suwon FC and Daegu FC managed a 1-1 draw in Suwon, Gyeonggi, shortly after Jeju United beat Gwangju FC 1-0 in Gwangju.

Newly-promoted Daejeon Hana Citizen played a match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and displayed yet another outstanding performance against last season’s runners-up, beating them 2-1 in front of their own fans.

Daejeon’s Anton Kryvotsyuk struck first in the 50th minute, followed by Lee Jin-hyun’s second in the 73rd minute.

Jeonbuk failed to get on the scoresheet until the end in the absence of Cho Gue-sung, who was out with an injury.

Jeong Tae-wook’s goal in the 85th minute could not save his side and Jeonbuk eventually went two positions down to ninth.

Daejeon, on the other hand, climbed up to third. The newly-promoted side have been one of the strongest teams this season, having recorded five wins, two draws and two losses so far in the league.

Daejeon even beat FC Seoul 3-2 earlier this month, before handing Ulsan their only loss of the season with a 2-1 victory on April 16.

The K League will continue on the weekend, with the first match between FC Seoul and Suwon FC in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Saturday, followed by Jeonbuk’s game against Gangwon at Jeonju, North Jeolla.

Daejeon will take Jeju at home on Sunday, while the Steelers play Incheon in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

The winless Bluewings will face Daegu at home to secure their first win this season.

League leaders Ulsan’s clash with Gwangju at Ulsan Munsu Football Staidum in Ulsan will be the last match of the week.

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