Ulsan snap dry spell with 2-1 win over Jeju

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai redeemed themselves after back-to-back losses with a 2-1 victory over Jeju United on Friday, while the second-place Pohang Steelers continued to narrow the gap after a win against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on the same day

Ulsan Hyundai celebrate after Kim Min-hyeok's first goal during a K League game against Jeju United at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Friday. [NEWS1]

K League leaders Ulsan Hyundai redeemed themselves after back-to-back losses with a 2-1 victory over Jeju United on Friday, while the second-place Pohang Steelers continued to narrow the gap after a win against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on the same day.

Ulsan walked away with the result they wanted in Jeju thanks to an outstanding performance from Lee Dong-gyeong. The midfielder displayed impressive form throughout Friday’s match, capitalizing on his experience from Europe where he was on loan for the past year and half — having played for FC Shalke and FC Hansa Rostock in Germany.

Lee took a tidy free kick in the 29th minute, providing an assist for the opening goal by Kim Min-hyeok. He then scored a goal of his own, with a shot from well outside the penalty box, ending the first half with Ulsan up 2-0.

Jeju made it 2-1 with Kim Ju-gong’s goal in the 54th minute, but that was all Jeju could manage.

The Steelers also won Friday’s match against Jeonbuk at Pohang Steelyard with the exact same result as Ulsan.

The Pohang Steelers' Kim Jun-ho in action during a K League game against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Pohang Steelyard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang in a photo shared on the Steelers' Facebook page on Monday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The score was 1-1 until the 87th minute after goals from the Steelers’ Han Chan-hee and Jeonbuk’s Moon Seon-min, but Lee Ho-jae scored the winner in the 88th minute, ending the match at 2-1.

Four other teams were in action on Saturday.

The match between two struggling sides, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Gangwon FC — the Bluewings sat in last-place and Gangwon in 11th place on the 12-team table before Saturday’s game — ended with a 2-1 win for the Bluewings, allowing them to climb out of last for the first time since April 8.

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings celebrate after Ko Seung-beom's goal during a K League game against Gangwon FC at Gangneung Sports Complex in Gangneung, Gangwon in a photo shared on the Bluewing's official Facebook page on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Over in the capital, FC Seoul suffered a 1-0 loss to Incheon United, falling behind the Steelers by 13 points. Their third-place now also looks shaky, as they are tied on points with fourth-place Jeonbuk, whom they top on goals scored — the second deciding factor when K league teams are tied on points.

Elsewhere, Daejeon Hana Citizen beat Daegu FC 1-0 in Daejeon, while Gwangju FC also managed a 1-0 win against Suwon FC in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

The K League will now stop for about two weeks, as some of its players will be in action with Team K League — an all-star team of players drawn from the K League 1 — against Atletico Madrid in the Coupang Play Series on Thursday. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will also play a game in the series on Aug. 3, against Paris-Saint Germain.

The league will resume on Aug. 4 with FC Seoul taking on the Steelers in the capital and Gwangju playing Daejeon in Gwangju.

The Suwon derby will take place the following day at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi, before league leaders Ulsan face Daegu at DGB Daegu Bank Park.

Jeonbuk will play Incheon at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Aug. 6 and the match between Jeju and Gangwon at Jeju World Cup Stadium will be the last game of the week.

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