The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Take the Lead | OneFootball

After midweek K League 1 action brought us new league leaders, columnist Nathan Sartain returns with another wrap-up of all the key talking points from across the top-flight.

A New Leader Emerges

Thanks to a triumphant 4-0 away win against bottom-place Daegu FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have now deservedly leapt into first-place. Accomplished, confident and befitting of a side that has consistently ironed out inconsistencies over the course of the year thus far, the Green Warriors were in truly excellent form here, taking their opposition to task throughout the 90 minutes. Starting with a 17th-minute own-goal, Jeonbuk would continuously pepper the Daegu box, taking 16 shots in total, and patiently waiting to strike when conceding more possession in the second-half. Now 12 league matches unbeaten, there appears to be no imminent end in sight to the good times under Gus Poyet, which makes a weekend clash with reigning champions Ulsan HD all the more exciting.

As for Daejeon Hana Citizen, they couldn’t match Pohang Steelers during a 3-1 home defeat. It started well enough for the Purples, who took the lead through Joo Min-kyu, but for the second away outing in a row it was the Steelers who generally had the answers to any question that came their way. Once Lee Ho-jae equalised just past the half-hour mark, Park Tae-ha’s man quickly capitalised on their gained momentum, taking the lead just a few minutes later through Jorge Luiz. Following that, Daejeon were unable to recapture their footing or find any rhythm, and a Kim In-sung goal in the 72nd-minute effectively sealed their fate.

Still, Daejeon are by no means stuck in a rut, and will see an away clash with FC Anyang as a chance to calm any forthcoming nerves.

Hope for Jeju SK?

Jeju SK have not had the best time as of late. Coming into round 16, the Tangerines had scored just three goals in their last five outings (comparatively, they had conceded nine), were winless in six games, and had slumped into 11th-place. But things are starting to slowly move in the right direction, and a 1-0 midweek victory away at Suwon FC following on from two solid draws will do Jeju’s survival chances plenty of good.

Regarding Tuesday’s match as a whole, it was a scrappy affair, with neither team particularly playing with any sort of flair, or a great deal of self-belief. Nevertheless, Jeju should be commended for their resilience, and structure in ensuring their lead stayed protected despite facing seven shots on target, two of which came in the final minutes of stoppage time. Coming up next for Kim Hak-beom’s men is a trip to Seoul, in a game which could allow for an opportunity for the Tangerines to move closer to their aim of avoiding the promotion/relegation playoff spots.

FC Anyang Return to Winning Ways

After a strong start had started to fizzle out, and a front-footed approach to games became a more risky prospect, FC Anyang manager Ryu Byeong-hoon had promised improvements in his side’s defending. What he didn’t vow to show, or perhaps didn’t need to, was Anyang’s wholistic determination to stay a K League 1 side for the foreseeable future. Over the course of a 3-1 away triumph over Gangwon FC, the Violets proved that of their own accord.

In the opening stages, this was a cagey affair, with the home team taking their usual possession-based approach largely without opposition threat. Yet as soon as Matheus Oliveira scored the opener, the tide shifted, and his swift follow-up left Gangwon rocked. Subsequently, Anyang were then content to continue soaking up pressure while seeking opportunities in transition, before pouncing one last time through Bruno Mota to complete an effective performance.

Was Wednesday night tactically reinventing the wheel? No, it’s a tried-and-tested formula that works, however, and that may be all Anyang require in the short-term.

What Else Happened in Round 16?

In Wednesday’s other fixtures, there was a shortage of goals, but nevertheless some talking points worth mention. Firstly, Ulsan HD will be disappointed they failed to capitalise on their dramatic weekend comeback, and had to settle for a comeback draw away at Gwangju FC. On that note, credit is needed for the Griffins, who are playing under difficult circumstances with their lingering FIFA registration ban issue still unresolved.

Elsewhere, FC Seoul moved themselves up to seventh with a solid 1-0 win away at Gimcheon Sangmu. Although VAR (rightly) came between Seo Min-woo and an equaliser here, really there can be no complaints about the game’s victor, with Kim Gi-dong’s men serving one of the few tangible moments of quality across a slower-paced offering.

And that’s all for this midweek. Regular Saturday and Sunday games return in just a few days, before a quick international break takes us past the halfway mark of the regular season.