Relegation Run-in R36 Wrap-up: Jeju safe, huge wins for Gangwon and the Bluewings

Jeju United are now safe from relegation following a weekend of relegation battle drama. Gangwon FC earn a huge win over Daejeon Hana Citizen but Suwon Bluewings respond with a win in the Suwon Derby, despite going behind and having 10 men for much of the afternoon.

The bottom three are now locked in as Jeju United are mathematically safe. The 0-0 draw, coupled with Suwon FC's loss in the Suwon Derby, confirmed the islanders' top-flight status for 2024. Jeju could have sealed it on Saturday had they beaten FC Seoul.

For now, Suwon FC, Gangwon FC, and Suwon Bluewings still make up the bottom three and in that order. Away from the bottom four, FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen are now guaranteed to finish in seventh and eighth respectively. There are seven points between the two clubs with two games left; likewise, there are seven points between Daejeon and Jeju in ninth.

Round 36 Wrap-up

#DHFCvGAN: Daejeon Hana Citizen 0-1 Gangwon FC

Gangwon's disaster of a season began at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on a similarly chilly afternoon back in February. But unlike that Round 1 clash eight months ago, this time the Bears showed their claws and dug in to earn a massive, massive win. 

Kim Dae-won's winner on 70 minutes meant that, momentarily, Gangwon went four points clear of Suwon Bluewings. Gangwon thought they'd actually taken the lead much earlier but Welinton's well-taken strike was chalked off for offside. The Brazilian also missed an absolute sitter shortly after and it began to look like it wasn't going to be Gangwon's day. But Kim Dae-won eventually broke the deadlock with a sumptuous strike from a player who doesn't seem to be suffering from a dip in form.

It was Gangwon's first win after a run of six without one and only their third away win of the campaign. This meant that the Bluewings had very little margin for error in the Suwon Derby the next day. Speaking to the media afterwards, Gangwon boss Yoon Jong-hwan said:

"We're not finished. We'll share the joy of today's win the mood could change depending on what happens in Suwon Bluewings' game tomorrow. Today's game was of tremendous importance for us, absolutely huge. I want to say to the players that it's not over."

#JEJvSEO: Jeju United 0-0 FC Seoul

Later in the day on Saturday, Jeju United knew three points at home to FC Seoul would seal safety but in the end a point from a 0-0 draw was enough. They had to wait 24 hours before safety was confirmed but Jeju can now start to look ahead to next season in K League 1.

FC Seoul came the closest to scoring and Stanislav Iljutcenko thought he'd broken the deadlock but his tap-in from close range was disallowed for offside. The former Pohang and Jeonbuk striker was in front of the last defender when Na Sang-ho shot meaning he was in an offside position when Kim Keun-bae parried the ball into his path. Jeju are now unbeaten in three though with two draws and one win and host a Final B win-less Daejeon after the international break.

#SuwonDerby: Suwon FC 2-3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings

With Gangwon winning on Saturday, Suwon Bluewings simply had to win on Sunday. Likewise, with Gangwon moving two points behind Suwon FC, there was little margin for error for the other Suwon side either. 

But a 10-man Suwon Bluewings came back from behind to win the final Suwon Derby of the season and stay within a point of Gangwon FC with two games to go. With just 16 minutes on the clock, a rush of blood to the head from Kazuki Kozuka meant that the Bluewings were down to 10 men. The Japanese midfielder was adjudged to have lashed out at Kim Do-yoon in an off-the-ball incident. After a VAR check, Kazuki's push was as clear as day and left the referee with no choice but to brandish the red card.

Hugo Gomes gave the hosts the lead just after the half-hour mark but Maxwell Acosty levelled from close range on the stroke of half-time. Former Suwon FC striker An Byong-jun turned the game on its head with a well-taken goal in the 54th minute only for Kim Hyun to level on 61. But, on as a sub, Kim Ju-chan combined with Fejsal Mulic - another impactful substitution by Yeom Ki-hun - to fire in what proved to be the winner in the 79th minute.

[PATREON: Tiago Orobó golden boot interview]

Final B Round 37 Fixtures

Saturday 25th November

#JEJvDHFC: Jeju United vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen - 14:00
#SuperMatch: FC Seoul vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings - 16:30
#GANvSUW: Gangwon FC vs. Suwon FC - 16:30

Final B Round 38 Fixtures

Saturday 2nd December

#DHFCvSEO: Daejeon Hana Citizen vs. FC Seoul
#SSBvGAN: Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. Gangwon FC
#SUWvJEJ: Suwon FC vs. Jeju United