Ulsan solidify top position on K League table

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai retained their 13-point lead at the top of the league with a victory over Daegu on Saturday, despite the absence of key players, while second-place Pohang Steelers kept a two-point gap with third-place FC Seoul.

The Pohang Steelers' Zeca celebrates scoring a goal during a K League game against Incheon United at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon on Sunday. [YONHAP]

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai retained their 13-point lead at the top of the league with a victory over Daegu on Saturday, despite the absence of key players, while second-place Pohang Steelers kept a two-point gap with third-place FC Seoul after a win against Incheon United the next day.

Eight K League teams were back in action on Saturday after the FIFA international break ended Tuesday last week, during which the Korean national team recorded a 1-0 loss against Peru and 1-1 draw with El Salvador.

Ulsan took on Daegu FC at home and dominated the game even without three of their key players — Lee Myung-jae, Park Yong-woo and Lee Kyu-seong — who had been suspended for one game last week for making racist remarks.

Ulsan defender Kim Tae-hwan first opened the scoring just inside two minutes with a shot inside the penalty box.

Daegu attempted to bounce back but rather went one man down after Edgar Silva committed a foul to Kim Min-hyeok in the 17th minute.

Ulsan utilized their outnumbering advantage and stretched the lead in the 65th minute with Valeri Qazaishvili’s goal, making it 2-0.

Ulsan Hyundai's Darijan Bojanic, center, dribbles the ball during a K League game against Daegu FC at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan in a photo shared on Ulsan's official Facebook account on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Lucas Barcelos put one back for Daegu in the 87th minute, but Qazaishvili added his second and Ulsan’s No. 3 in injury time after putting the ball that bounced off the goal post, ending the game 3-1.

FC Seoul also secured a victory after beating the Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on the same day.

Both sides struggled to get on the scoresheet until the end, but Willyan Barbosa scored the only goal and winner in the 86th minute, claiming his side’s second place briefly before the Pohang Steelers reclaimed it the following day.

FC Seoul's Willyan Barbosa, left, shoots during a K League game against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi in a photo shared on FC Seoul's official Facebook account on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Saturday’s match was Hwang Ui-jo’s last game for FC Seoul, who has been on a six-month loan from Premier League club Nottingham Forest since January.

Hwang has managed four goals and two assists in 18 matches with the capital side.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, on the other hand, lost 2-0 to newly-promoted Gwangju FC in Gwangju, suffering a loss in new manager Dan Petrescu’s debut game with Jeonbuk.

Jeonbuk and Gwangju swapped their positions on the table after the match, with Gwangju now sitting in fifth and Jeonbuk in eighth.

Another promoted side Daejeon Hana Citizen recorded a 1-1 draw with Jeju United at Jeju World Cup Stadium.

Four other teams played on Sunday.

The Steelers faced Incheon at Incheon Football Stadium and secured a 1-0 victory with Zeca’s goal in the 12th minute, snatching second place from FC Seoul and maintaining a two-point gap with the capital side.

Elsewhere, Gangwon FC played Suwon FC in Suwon and drew 1-1, failing to manage a win in manager Yoon Jong-hwan’s debut match with Gangwon.

Gangwon replaced former manager Choi Yong-soo with Yoon on June 14 after Choi only managed two wins in 18 league games with the team.

Gangwon have been struggling throughout the season, still sitting in 11th place on the 12-team table with two wins, seven draws and 10 losses so far.

The lack of goals is the reason behind the team’s struggle. They are the least prolific team in the league with just 12 goals, six goals behind even last-place Bluewings.

The K League will continue on the weekend, with Jeonbuk facing Jeju at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Saturday.

Daegu will take on last-place Bluewings at home, followed by FC Seoul’s clash with Daejeon in the capital.

League leaders Ulsan will travel west to play Gwangju the next day, while the Steelers will clash with Suwon FC in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

The match between Incheon and Gangwon at Incheon Football Stadium will be the last game of the week.

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