Ulsan hold on to comfortable lead despite winless run

League leaders Ulsan Hyundai drew 1-1 with Daejeon Hana Citizen on Saturday, failing to secure a win for the third match in a row and allowing the second-place Pohang Steelers to narrow the gap to six points.

Ulsan Hyundai players celebrate during a K League match against Daejeon Hana Citizen at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in a photo shared on Ulsan's official Facebook account on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

League leaders Ulsan Hyundai drew 1-1 with Daejeon Hana Citizen on Saturday, failing to secure a win for the third match in a row and allowing the second-place Pohang Steelers to narrow the gap to six points.

Eight K League teams were back in action on Saturday after the FIFA international break, during which some K League players joined the national team and played a two-friendly series against Wales and Saudi Arabia in Britain.

Ulsan faced Daejeon at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium and were off to a shaky start, allowing Kim In-gyun to open the scoring a minute after the kickoff.

The league leaders bounced back with Joo Min-kyu converting a penalty in the 29th minute. That goal was Joo’s 14th of the 2023 season, allowing him to edge out second-top scorer Tiago Orobo of Daejeon by one goal.

Both sides then created multiple changes in the second half to score the much-needed winner. Ulsan seemed to have scored their second goal when Valeri Qazaishvili slotted in a shot with a volley in the 83rd minute, but it was canceled after the referee judged that Ulsan’s Lim Jong-eun blocked goalkeeper Lee Chang-geun’s view.

A 1-1 draw was the final result and it was Ulsan’s second draw with Daejeon this season, having recorded two draws and one loss against the newly-promoted side so far.

Over in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, the Steelers grabbed a 2-0 win against Suwon FC thanks to a brace by Zeca. The victory extended their unbeaten streak to nine games and Pohang are now only six points behind Ulsan.

The Pohang Steelers' Zeca, front, reacts after scoring a goal during a K League match against Suwon FC at Pohang Steelyard in Pohang, North Gyeongsang in a photo shared on the Steelers' official Facebook account on Monday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Elsewhere, Gangwon FC managed a 3-1 victory over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in front of Jeonbuk fans and escaped out of last place on the table.

Incheon United also earned a 2-1 win against Jeju United in Incheon and climbed one spot up to sixth.

Four other teams were in action on Sunday and both Gwangju FC and Daegu FC earned a 1-0 win.

Gwangju beat FC Seoul in the capital and pushed the capital side one position down to fifth, while Daegu beat the Suwon Samsung Bluewings, putting them in last place.

The K League will continue this week, with the Bluewings traveling south to face Daejeon on Saturday and FC Seoul playing Jeju at Jeju World Cup Stadium.

Gwangju will then face Jeonbuk Hyundai the next day in Gwangju, while league leaders Ulsan play Suwon FC in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

Gangwon will also take on Incheon at home and the match between the Steelers and Daegu will be the last fixture of the week.

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