Recap: K League 1 Round 5

The much-anticipated Super Match between Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul ended disappointingly goalless. Elsewhere we saw K League One's only 100% win record come to an end as Gyeongnam FC could only manage a draw as they played bottom club Daegu FC, while Ulsan Hyundai got their first three points of the season. All this and more in our recap to Round Five.
(image from ESPN)

Saturday 7th April

Incheon United 2 - 2 Jeonnam Dragons 

This game was a mid-table match up with sixth placed Incheon United taking on Jeonnam Dragons. With the game ending in a 2-2 draw just like it did last time in November 2017, this was maybe not a huge surprise. This match was dramatic however as both teams seemed they were heading to an entertaining 1-1 draw. What was to happen in injury time though was something to get any fan out of their seat. The 91st minute saw Choi Jong-hwan play a beautiful ball on to the head of Incheon United striker Stefan Mugoša's for him to convert. With the home side then leading and boasting a man advantage after an earlier red card for the visitors, it looked like it was game over. The ten men of Jeonnam Dragons however managed to pull something special out the bag in the dying moments of the game. First Lee Seul-chan took a shot from just outside the box which hit the post. The ball span then out right on to the feet of Choi Jae-hyun though who put the ball into the vacant net with the Incheon 'keeper Lee Tae-hee powerless to stop it.

Gyeongnam FC 1 - 1 Daegu FC

On paper, it looked like there would be only one winner coming into this match, with the home side Gyeongnam FC going into the game with four wins from four. This did not look to be the case early on though as Daegu surprisingly took the lead in the opening 20 minutes through the head of Hong Jung-woon following a lovely corner from Hwang Soon-min. The home side got back into it as Marcao headed into the path of Bae Ki-jong, who scored from close range in the 67th minute. In truth, despite the difference in league points this season, the draw was the fair result and Gyeongnam FC remain top for now.

Sunday 8th April

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 - 0 FC Seoul

The biggest game of the weekend in which we thought could be a bit of a classic unfortunately ended in a 0-0 draw. The FC Seoul fans at the end of the game booed and continued their calls for manager Hwang Sun-hong to be removed from his position. The main talking point of the game was the sending off of Suwon's Choi Sung-keun, made correctly through the VAR after 71 minutes. FC Seoul did see a goal rightly disallowed for handball through the system also.

Pohang Steelers 0 - 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors picked up the three points in a 2-0 win this weekend over Pohang Steelers. After some question marks over their defence, they will also be happy to have made it three clean sheets in a row as they look to get into that top spot as soon as they can. The away side didn't get their first until the 67th minute through a spot-kick scored by Lee Dong-gook. The second then came from some way out as Son Jun-ho found the corner of the net with an exceptional strike.

Ulsan Hyundai 3 - 1 Gangwon FC

Ulsan Hyundai game into this game on the back of four straight defeats in the league and were sitting bottom of the K League 1. Despite the pressure growing on the home side however, they did surprisingly beat Melbourne Victory in the AFC Champions League in the week 6-2. That result must have helped with the team's confidence as they ran out 3-1 winners this weekend over Gangwon. The goals came with a lovely flick shot from Junior Negao and then from an Oršić penalty later. The goal scoring was wrapped up on the 67th minute as Kim In-Sung made it 3-1 after a ten man Gangwon had pulled a goal back through Derić.

Jeju United 0 - 0 Sangju Sangmu 

The last game of the weekend was also not one to write home about as Jeju United hosted Sangju Sangmu with both teams playing out a goalless draw. Jeju United defender Kim Won-il did see red late on for a second bookable offence which also made matters worse for the home side. Jeju United now have only one win from five and are already officially out of the AFC Champions League.