Recap: K League 1 Round 4

After a disappointing international break for Korean National Team, it was back to league action for all 12 K League 1 sides this weekend. In a weekend in which we saw newly promoted Gyeongnam remain top with four wins from four and two late equalisers, namely from Incheon United and Jeonnam Dragons, round four certainly did not disappoint. 

(Image via K League)

Saturday 31st March

Pohang Steelers 2 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai

In the first East Coast Derby of the season, Pohang Steelers came away with the three points. With Pohang Steelers sitting second now with ten points and Ulsan Hyundai sitting bottom after four straight defeats their fortunes couldn't be much different. When Jung Won-jin opened the scoring with a lovely finish just after the half-hour mark it looked like there was only going to be one winner. Kim Seung-dae then made it two on 68 minutes when he found himself one-on-one with the keeper and finished well from close range. Ulsan did get a goal though with just over ten minutes left on the clock through Junior Negao but it was not enough to change the outcome. After a worrying start to the season for Ulsan coach Kim Do-hoon will need to find some answers quickly to this very poor start to the season.

Jeju United 0-1 Suwon Bluewings

Jeju United's somewhat hapless start to the season continued as they went down 1-0 at home to Suwon Bluewings. With the Bluewings having a very mixed start to the season they would have been happy that they managed to open the scoring early on through Dejan Damjanović, the Montenegrin found the bottom corner with a well taken left-footed strike in the 15th minute. Both teams now have Asian Champions League games to look forward to this week; Suwon will want to keep record back to back wins heading into the Super Match on Sunday, whilst Jeju United will will want to find some consistencies in their performances after picking up just one win in their last six in all competitions.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 Sangju Sangmu

After disappointments for some of Jeonbuk players who were representing the Korean National Team for their two Europe-based friendlies, the current Champions would have been happy with their 1-0 win and clean sheet against Sangju Sangmu. The winner came in the first ten minutes through Brazilian Adriano with a well-worked goal. Jeonbuk will travel to Japan in the week to face Kashiwa Reysol as they look to win their Champions League group.

K League Coach's Jeonbuk Scout Report: here

Daegu FC 1-1 Jeonnam Dragons

The last game on Saturday came in the shape of an entertaining draw with a late equaliser down in Daegu. With each team having had poor starts to the season it was almost inevitable this game would end in a draw. Hwang Jae-won's lovely finish into the top corner from just over 20-yards out in the first half looked to have been the winner for Daegu. That was till the 85th minute, however, when somehow Choi Jae-hyun found himself in space six-yards from goal as he fired his shot in calmly for a Jeonnam Dragons goal and to salvage a point for his side. 

Sunday 1st April

FC Seoul 1-1 Incheon United

The game known as the Gyeongin derby ended in a 1-1 draw as FC Seoul, despite their attacking players, were unable to really break down Incheon United. In the end, this cost them a win with coach Hwang Sun-hong now under real pressure - his side has only managed two points from a possible twelve this season so far. However, it did look like FC Seoul could get the three points when Evandro Paulista finished excellently on 55 minutes to put his team ahead. However, with Incheon United having so much of the possession late on you felt a goal could come from the away side. The goal then did arrive in dramatic fashion as supersub Song Si-woo scored late on again against FC Seoul, just as he did in the last Gyeongin Derby in Incheon last season. The goal came after a long ball forward found him on the edge of the box and he was able to turn the ball on his chest and fire home from the edge of the box.

Columnists Ryan Walters, Paul Neat and Matthew Binns' post-match analysis from Sangam.

 Gangwon FC 1-3 Gyeongnam FC

In the final game of the weekend, we saw Gyeongnam travel north to the Chuncheon Songam Stadium to face Gangwon. The leagues only 100% win record was on the line in this match and Gyeongnam did not disappoint as they ran away with a 3-1 victory to remain top of the K League 1 on 12 points. The game also saw another solid performance from the Brazilian Marcão as he got himself two more goals to take his tally for the season to six.