Gimcheon snatch top spot again, stretching unbeaten streak to four

The club’s impressive run this season — topping the league with six wins, one draw and two losses — could put the team in a safe position on the table before key players are set to depart after the end of their service in July.

Gimcheon Sangmu forward Lee Jung-min, center, celebrates scoring during a K League 1 match against Gangwon FC at Gimcheon Sports Complex in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang in a photo shared on Gimcheon Sangmu's official Instagram account on Saturday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gimcheon Sangmu extended their unbeaten streak to four games with a 1-0 win over Gangwon FC on Saturday, snatching the top position on the K League 1 table from the Pohang Steelers.

The winner by Lee Jung-min in the 89th minute at Gimcheon Sports Complex in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang secured three points for the military club.

The club’s impressive run this season — topping the league with six wins, one draw and two losses — could put the team in a safe position on the table before key players like Lee and the team’s top scorer Kim Hyeon-ug are set to leave Gimcheon after the end of their service in July.

Over in Gwangju, Suwon FC beat Gwangju FC 2-1 thanks to the last-minute winner by Kim Tae-han, pushing the southern club to the bottom of the table.

Suwon have been on a solid run this season under new manager Kim Eun-jung, having recorded four wins, three draws and two losses.

Elsewhere, Daejeon Hana Citizen escaped from the bottom of the table with a 3-1 win over FC Seoul in Daejeon. For FC Seoul, it was their third straight league loss, having secured the last win against Gimcheon on April 3.

FC Seoul star Jesse Lingard was out of the squad again due to a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since mid-March.

Six other teams played on Sunday.

In Jeonju, North Jeolla, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors blew a two-goal lead in second-half stoppage time after goals from Park Jae-hyun in the 93rd minute and Jeong Jae-sang in the 95th minute, salvaging one point from a 2-2 draw.

Jeonbuk still jumped from eighth to sixth on the table despite the draw, while Daegu slipped one spot down to 11th on their new manager Park Chang-hyun’s debut. Park took the helm last week after former manager Choi Won-kwon resigned due to a poor start to the 2024 campaign.

The Steelers recorded a goalless draw at home against Incheon and shared one point. The Pohang side are now one point behind Gimcheon.

Defending champions Ulsan HD secured three points with a 3-1 victory over Jeju United at home.

Ulsan HD midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong, left, celebrates scoring a goal during a K League 1 match against Jeju United at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan in a phot shared on Ulsan HD's official Facebook account on Sunday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong got his name on the scoresheet in the 62nd minute of his final game for Ulsan before joining Gimcheon for mandatory military service. He enlisted on Monday.

Ulsan are two points behind Gimcheon, but they have played one match fewer due to the 2023-24 AFC Champions League semifinal schedule with Yokohama F. Marinos, which ended with a loss for Ulsan last week.

K League teams do not have much time before they are back in action, as there are mid-week games.

League leaders Gimcheon will travel west to face Daejeon on Tuesday, while Suwon take on FC Seoul in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

Gwangju will fly south to play Jeju the following day, and Jeonbuk will travel north to face Incheon. Daegu will play Ulsan at home, while the Steelers will clash with Gangwon in Chuncheon, Gangwon.

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