Ulsan and Seoul extend lead in top two spots

Ulsan Hyundai held onto their eight-point lead at the top of the K League table with their 10th victory of the season on Tuesday, while second-place FC Seoul continued their hunt for the top spot with a win over Gwangju FC on the same day.

FC Seoul's Willyan Barbosa in action during a K League game against Gwangju FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Mapo District, western Seoul on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Ulsan Hyundai held onto their eight-point lead at the top of the K League table with their 10th victory of the season on Tuesday, while second-place FC Seoul continued their hunt for the top spot with a win over Gwangju FC on the same day.

Six K League teams were back in the action on Tuesday and Wednesday, less than five days after their weekend games as the schedule remains busy ahead of the summer.

League leaders Ulsan were the first side to play and faced Gangwon FC at home.

Ulsan dominated the first half with nearly 70 percent possession, but could not break through Gangwon’s defense. The multiple solid attempts Ulsan managed did not find the back of the net.

They scored a much-needed goal in the 51st minute when Joo Min-kyu converted a penalty from a handball committed by Gangwon defender Yun Suk-young.

Ulsan Hyundai's Joo Min-kyu celebrates after scoring a penalty during a K League game against Gangwon FC at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan in a photo shared on Ulsan's official Facebook page on Tuesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gangwon tried to bounce back but could not score the equalizer and suffered a 1-0 loss to remain in 11th place on the 12-team table.

Elsewhere, FC Seoul clashed with Gwangju in the capital and displayed an outstanding performance against the newly-promoted side.

The capital side’s Willyan Barbosa opened the scoring in the ninth minute, which was the Brazilian forward’s first goal for FC Seoul since he joined the team ahead of the 2023 season.

No more goals followed in the first half, but Gwangju leveled with Heo Yool’s effort in the 50th minute.

FC Seoul did not allow any more goals, however, and Na Sang-ho regained the lead in the 65th minute, followed by Park Dong-jin’s No. 3 in the 86th minute for a 3-1 win.

Na has been remarkable this season, having scored eight goals already in 12 league matches to tie his total for last season. He is the league’s top scorer.

FC Seoul stayed in second place with Tuesday’s result, while Gwangju slipped one spot down to eighth.

The Pohang Steelers, on the other hand, went one position down to fourth following a 1-1 draw with Daegu FC on Tuesday.

Six other K League teams played the next day.

Daejeon Hana Citizen, who took on Suwon FC in Daejeon, snatched third from the Steelers with a 2-1 victory.

Daejeon’s Masatoshi Ishida scored the team’s first goal in the 15th minute, before Jeon Byung-kwan extended the lead in the 56th minute.

Suwon FC’s Lars Veldwijk goal in the 60th minute could not save his side.

Newly-promoted Daejeon have been formidable this season, recording six wins, three draws and three losses so far. They are the only side to have managed a win against Ulsan this season.

Meanwhile, the last-place Suwon Samsung Bluewings suffered a 3-0 loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on newly-appointed Bluewings' manager Kim Byung-su’s debut.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players celebrate after winning a K League game against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

The game was completely one-sided from the beginning, with Moon Seon-min scoring a goal 21 seconds after kickoff. Paik Seung-ho then struck twice in the 40th and 65th minute.

Both teams have been struggling this season, both firing their managers only a few weeks after things kicked off. Jeonbuk climbed three spots up to seventh but are still without a manager, while Kim and the Bluewings stayed in last place.

Jeju United also managed a victory, beating Incheon United 2-0 at home.

The K League will continue this weekend.

Daejeon will travel to Pohang, North Gyeongsang, on Saturday to face the Steelers, while Gwangju will take on Daegu in Gwangju, followed by Gangwon’s clash with the Bluewings in Chuncheon, Gangwon.

FC Seoul will travel south to face Ulsan, followed by Jeonbuk’s game against Incheon at Incheon Football Stadium.

Suwon FC’s game against Jeju in Suwon, Gyeonggi will be the last match of the week.

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