The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Find Another Gear Again

As K League 1 games officially returned for all teams this weekend, columnist Nathan Sartain has the recap for all of the round 22 action.

Suwon FC's New Heroes, Daegu FC's Repeating Woes

This past Friday, the bottom two clubs in K League 1 had very different outings. 11th-placed Suwon FC showed that life after Anderson Oliveira doesn’t have to be as scary as it could have been, while bottom-place Daegu FC proved that sometimes improvements do not lead to victory.

To talk about the Sky Blues first, initially their clash with Gimcheon Sangmu felt like it was going to be the perfect follow-up to last week’s 2-2 draw with reigning champions Ulsan HD. Cesinha, who is firmly back in form, mustered a goal and assist within 22 minutes, whilst the overall atmosphere of both crowd and team came across as rejuvenated as opposed to panicked. Nevertheless, when Gimcheon’s Park Sang-hyeok struck from close-range, and his effort was adjudged to have crossed the line, the tide shifted. From there, the military side had greater rhythm, larger confidence, and a quality edge which would ultimately carry them through to a 3-2 victory after Won Ki-jung popped up with a vital header in the 92nd-minute.

Conversely, Suwon FC used all of their resolve to return to winning ways in round 22, with their new additions helping plug some important gaps. It started with Willyan’s thunderous effort from inside the box, the type that typifies the quality the Brazilian possesses in abundance, then ended with fellow new signing Andrigo’s cross being diverted into the net by Gwangju FC keeper Kim Kyung-min. Was it pretty? Not entirely, though manager Kim Eun-jung needed this comeback result to help prove that the departure of one key player can still allow for a collective regrouping.

[READ: Suwon return from the dead thanks to Brazilian debutants.]

Seriously, Can Anyone Stop Jeonbuk?

How many times can Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors do it? It’s become a repeated phrase, but the Green Warriors are truly looking unbeatable at this stage of the season, unable to waver even when their fortunes look near certain to change.

This weekend, it was the turn of Pohang Steelers to learn the hard way, with their 2-0 half-time lead ending in a 3-2 home defeat. For the most part, the Steelers were good value too, attacking with pace, varying play with confidence, and taking the game right to the league leaders. And, once Lee Ho-jae’s long-range effort hit the back of the net, it appeared perhaps the summer break had stunted the momentum of Jeonbuk. Yet once Gus Poyet’s men found their feet, they found them quickly, and began the second period with real intensity.

Continuing, Lee Seung-woo would get the visitors back in the mix, his tidy dink over the Pohang goalkeeper halving the deficit. Some frantic action followed as both teams generated chances, but it was Tiago Orobo who would draw Jeonbuk level - and swiftly exit for a trip to the toilet - buoying the Green Warriors into eventually finding their desired winner via a Lee Ho-jae own-goal.

With this victory, Jeonbuk can now boast being 12 points clear at the top of the table, following second-place Daejeon Hana Citizen’s fifth consecutive draw. This time, it was two stoppage time goals from a determined Gangwon that dented the Purples’ ambitions, with the Bears' summer signings Mo Jae-hyun and Kim Gun-hee scoring in quick succession to secure a point. Overall, this stalemate was probably a fair result, but Hwang Sun-hong will no doubt be aiming to get his team back into the win column soon, to at least make sure his team deliver continental football.

What Else Happened in Round 22?

On Saturday, Jeju SK ended their mini winless run, beating FC Anyang (who themselves have now lost three consecutive games) 2-0. It was a progressive outing from the Tangerines here, who limited their opposition to just four attempts, took the initiative with 63% possession, and in the second-half especially created a steady stream of chances. As the battle for top-flight survival heats up, Jeju will need more showings like this, given they do have it in them to play more ambitiously.

Finishing the weekend was a clash between FC Seoul and Ulsan HD, one which lacked a great deal of excitement, yet showed glimpses of the home side’s potential. It took a Jesse Lingard wonder strike to separate the teams, though Seoul were largely comfortable, whilst the Horangi at times could not find consistent ideas as to how they would break down their opposition. So, is the pressure now mounting on Kim Pan-gon? It certainly looks that way.

And that's all for another column! K League 1 action returns in midweek with a full fixture list, as the summer continues to bring with it a packed schedule.