K League 1 Finals A and B Round 37: Three Takeaways

The stage is set for a dramatic final weekend in K League 1 with top honors and continental placings still to be decided.  Gwangju were confirmed as relegated last weekend while Gangwon will now face Daejeon Hana Citizen in the Promotion/Relegation playoff.  Here's what we learned following last weekend's action. 

Jeonbuk Enter the Final Weekend With a Two Point Gap at the Top

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors scored a 2-0 victory away to Daegu FC last weekend thanks to a pair of second half goals from Hong Jeong-ho early in the second half and Moon Seon-min late on to give the four time defending champions a chance to make it five in a row this weekend when they take on Jeju United at home.  

All three matches between the two sides have ended in draws this season but a draw may not be enough for Jeonbuk to clinch the title.  A draw would definitely not go in favor of Jeju United, either, as they must win to have any chance of locking up third spot which would put them into the playoff stage for the 2022 Asian Champions League.

Ulsan Hyundai Squander Opportunity to Stay Level

Vako and Co. came up short against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the last round. 

Ulsan Hyundai had to settle for a scoreless draw last weekend against Suwon Samsung Bluewings despite having seventy percent of possession throughout the match.  Of their fifteen shot attempts, only three were on target, however, and they now face the possibility of a third consecutive runners-up finish despite leading the first division table for much of the year.

They will have home field advantage at Munsu against Daegu FC this weekend and will look to recover the form which saw them emphatically dispatch Jeju United just two weeks ago.  They will also be hoping for the Tangerines to do the unthinkable and win on the road in Jeonju for them to clinch their first league crown since 2005.

The Bottom of the Table Has Been Confirmed

Gwangju FC will head back to the second division in 2022.

Gwangju FC needed a win against Seongnam FC last time out to maintain hope off staying up but Ahn Jin-beom's strike on the half hour mark was all the Magpies would need to take all three points on the day, not only ensuring their survival in the top flight for another season but also resigning the Yellows to the second division for the 2022 season.

With Pohang Steelers and Incheon United already guaranteed safety, that means it will be Gangwon FC who will face Daejeon Hana Citizen in the Promotion/Relegation playoff.  The Purples will host the first leg on Wednesday December 8th in the evening, with the return leg coming the following Sunday.

Gangwon played an uninspiring ninety minutes against FC Seoul but will try to build some momentum when they play Seongnam in their final match of the season on Sunday afternoon.  Daejeon already knocked FC Anyang out in the K League 2 playoffs and would like to keep that confidence intact.  Should the K League 2 outfit prevail, it would be their first time back in the first division since the 2015 season.