Ulsan secure second consecutive K League title

Ulsan Hyundai locked in their second consecutive K League title with a 2-0 win against Daegu FC on Sunday, claiming the club's fourth league crown with three games still to go after a remarkable performance in the 2023 season.

Ulsan Hyundai players celebrate after sealing the 2023 K League title following a league match against Daegu FC at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Sunday. [YONHAP]

Ulsan Hyundai locked in their second consecutive K League title with a 2-0 win against Daegu FC on Sunday, claiming the club's fourth league crown with three games still to go after a remarkable performance in the 2023 season.

Ulsan entered Sunday's game up seven points with the second-place Pohang Steelers having already played on Saturday, meaning that only a win would secure the early title for the reigning champions.

Despite the high stakes, a victory for Ulsan did not seem likely for much of the first half as the league leaders were kept silent. Things changed after the break, with Kim Min-hyeok’s heading in the go-ahead goal in the 68th and Jang Si-young adding one more in the 89th to secure the much-needed three points and the title.

This is the first time that Ulsan has defended a league title, having previously won in 1996, 2005 and 2022.

“It is extremely difficult to defend the title, but I think our players were able to have a successful season thanks to last season’s winning experience,” Ulsan manager Hong Myung-bo said after Sunday’s match.

Ulsan Hyundai manager Hong Myung-bo poses for a photo after winning a K League match against Daegu FC at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Sunday. [NEWS1]

Ulsan’s run this season was outstanding from the beginning, with the team managing a six-game winning streak in the early days and moving as far out of reach as 12 points clear at one point in the campaign.

Hong, long seen as one of the best Korean managers, can take a lot of credit for this year's success. His personal brand of all-out attacking football worked for the squad last season and continued to dominate this year.

The K League champions have been prolific this season under Hong, scoring 58 goals in 35 league matches — just three behind FC Seoul with 61.

Joo Min-kyu and Valeri Qazaishvili have been the main attacking duo, having managed 15 and 11 goals respectively.

Ulsan’s success this season may be the start of the club’s dominance in the league, as recent rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors dominated from 2017 through 2021, during which they won five times in a row.

From 2019 through 2021, Ulsan fell just behind Jeonbuk every year, finishing as runner up.

That tough three-year spell even made Ulsan the team with the most runner-up finishes in the K League, at 10.

The remaining three league fixtures for Ulsan will determine whether they can finish this season with more points than last year. Three wins would mean the defending champions finish the season with 79 points — the club managed 76 last year.

Ulsan are out of Korean FA Cup contention, but still have a chance of winning more silverware at the AFC Champions League where they have secured two wins in the group stage so far.

With the league winners decided, K League fans will turn their attention over to who will finish in the top four and which teams will face relegation.

The top four teams earn a chance to play in the Champions League the following year, while the bottom three can be relegated.

The last-place team automatically faces relegation and the 10th and 11th teams have to play the playoffs with K League 2 sides to determine who will be booted or promoted.

As things stand at the moment, the Suwon Samsung Bluewings are at the bottom of the table with 26 points, Gangwon FC are 11th with 27 and Suwon FC are 10th with 32.

The three teams have struggled throughout the season and none of them managed a win over the weekend.

The K League will continue on Saturday with Gangwon traveling south to face Daejeon Hana Citizen. Ninth-place Jeju United will face FC Seoul at home, the same time Daegu take on Gwangju at DGB Daegu Bank Park.

The Suwon derby — between the Bluewings and Suwon FC — will take place at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi the following day.

Incheon United will face Jeonbuk at home and a match between league champions Ulsan and the Steelers at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium will wrap up this week’s K League action.

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