Jeonbuk lose 2-1 to Gangwon and see red in Kim Do-heon's first game

It only took Jeonbuk three minutes to concede a goal, with 18-year-old Gangwon forward Yang Min-hyuk capitalizing a through ball to smash a shot into the top of the net.

Gangwon FC Yago Cariello controls the ball during a K League 1 match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Gangwon on Wednesday. [GANGWON FC]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ended their new manager Kim Do-heon’s first game in charge with a red card and lost 2-1 to Gangwon FC on Wednesday.

A struggling Jeonbuk, who recently escaped the bottom of the K League 1 table, faced Gangwon at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town in Gangwon only three days after Kim was announced as the new permanent boss.

It only took Jeonbuk three minutes to concede a goal, with 18-year-old Gangwon forward Yang Min-hyuk capitalizing a through ball to smash a shot into the top of the net.

That goal marked Yang’s fourth goal of the 2024 campaign, his first season in the K League 1, which he is playing while still in high school.

Lee Yeong-jae equalized in the 24th minute with a mid-range shot that goalkeeper Lee Gwang-yeon could not get his hands on.

But Jeonbuk went one man down after Jeong Byung-kwan received a second yellow card in the 61st minute.

Gangwon found more goal-scoring opportunities, and Yago Cariello scored a header in the 77th minute that sealed a 2-1 win for his side.

Gangwon stayed in fourth place on the 12-team table after the win. Jeonbuk remained in 10th place after the loss, keeping their spot in the relegation zone.

In the K League 1, the last-place team faces automatic relegation to the second division while the 10th and 11th-place clubs play promotion-relegation playoffs against two K League 2 sides to decide which teams secure berths in the top tier next season.

Another loss could push Jeonbuk back to the bottom of the table, as they are three points above last-place Daejeon Hana Citizen as of press time Thursday. Daegu FC, sitting in 11th place, are tied on points with Jeonbuk at 14.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, defending champions Ulsan ceded the frontrunner position on the table to the Pohang Steelers after a 1-1 draw with Incheon United in Incheon.

Last-place Daejeon, meanwhile, lost 1-0 to Jeju United at home, extending their winless streak to six games.

Daejeon have yet to secure a win under interim manager Jung Kwang-seok, who took charge of the club after former manager Lee Min-sung resigned last week for a poor start to the campaign.

Over in Suwon, Gyeonggi, Suwon FC beat Daegu FC 2-0 thanks to goals by Kang Sang-yoon and Lee Seung-woo.

Lee, who failed to receive a senior national team call for two 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, has been on a remarkable run this season with seven goals in 12 league fixtures as the fourth top scorer.

Suwon FC midfielder Lee Seung-woo, left, celebrates during a K League 1 match against Daegu FC at Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon, Gyeonggi in a photo shared on Suwon FC's official Facebook account on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Four other teams were in action on Tuesday.

The clash between Gimcheon Sangmu and FC Seoul in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang ended with a goalless draw.

FC Seoul midfielder Jesse Lingard, who displayed an improved form in a match against the Pohang Steelers on Saturday, played 70 minutes against Gimcheon but failed to record a goal.

The former Manchester United midfielder has yet to pick up an assist or a goal in the six matches he's played for the capital side.

Elsewhere, the Steelers beat Gwangju FC in Gwangju 1-0 and took the top spot. The Pohang side now have 29 points — one point above reigning champions Ulsan.

The Pohang Steelers celebrate during a K League 1 match against Gwangju FC at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju in a photo shared on the Steelers' official Facebook account on Thursday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

All 12 K League 1 teams will be back in action on the weekend. Ulsan will host struggling Jeonbuk at home on Saturday, while Incheon face Suwon in Suwon, Gyeonggi,

League leaders Steelers will take on Gimcheon in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang.

Last-place Daejeon will host 11th-place Daegu the next day. Gangwon will fly south to play Jeju.

The match between FC Seoul and Gwangju in the capital will wrap up the week's K League 1 schedule.

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