The K League 1 Wrap-Up: FC Anyang Defeat FC Seoul, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Breeze Past Ulsan HD, and Daegu FC Finally Win | OneFootball

In a week full of upset victories, hard-fought triumphs and key statements being made, columnist Nathan Sartain returns to recap all of the talking points from round 28 of the 2025 K League 1 season.

Daegu FC Return to Winning Ways

It’s been a long season for Daegu FC. For supporters, they watched the year start with promise, then quickly fizzle out as the Sky Blues fell further and further into a rut. Even the introduction of a new manager in Kim Byung-soo didn’t change things to any great degree, and heading into round 28 Daegu were 14 points behind FC Anyang in 11th.

For a period against Suwon FC this weekend, it appeared like it would be another disappointing outing too. Initially, Daegu came out of the blocks strong, creating chances and asserting themselves. Yet a sloppy concession of a penalty allowed for the in-form Willyan to put the visitors in front, invigorating Kim Eun-jung’s men in the process. Even just going from the law of averages, though, something is bound to fall your way at some stage, and in the second-half Daegu reaped the rewards for what has been weeks of hard work.

First, the Sky Blues withstood some Suwon pressure, with Kim Kyung-min’s dinked effort hitting the bar the most potent chance in terms of opposition threat. Then, as Daegu grew into the final phase of the game, Park Dae-hoon poked home from a corner to net the leveller, before Caio Marcelo’s header in the 94th-minute turned things on its head. A deft counter-attack from Park Dae-hoon right at the death then sealed the deal at 3-1, giving Kim Byung-soo his first K League 1 victory in management since August 2023, and the Sky Blues their first win since May.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Breeze Past Ulsan HD

On Saturday, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ comfortable 2-0 away win over Ulsan HD - their first triumph in Munsu since 2022, following a run of seven straight defeats - served perhaps as the perfect sign of just how far the roles for these two teams have reversed since last year.

Under Gus Poyet, Jeonbuk are a completely rejuvenated team to the point it constantly bears repeating. Gone is the burden of a squad having to perform just because of the preceding reputation, and in its place is a legitimate winning mentality, refined by a growing, resilient belief that this club has the quality to compete on all fronts. To that extent, the Green Warriors were dominant against familiar foes, having an average of over 70% possession in the first half as they began to test Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

It wasn’t long into the second period before a breakthrough came either, with Lee Young-jae’s long-range curling effort breaking the deadlock in some style. Five minutes later, Jeon Jin-woo headed in the second, continuing Jeonbuk’s growing momentum. Ulsan then scarcely threatened, and proceedings wrapped up neatly for the champions-elect. It’s a worry for new Horangi manager Shin Tae-yong, who has inherited an expensive squad only to lose three consecutive games, while for Gus Poyet he could well be on track for a domestic double in his first season managing in Korea.

FC Anyang's Dream Derby Day

While K League 1 survival is FC Anyang’s current priority, no result will perhaps feel as satisfying to them as Sunday’s 2-1 away victory against rivals FC Seoul, their first against them since the club was founded in 2013. After all, football is an emotional game, and even in tough moments fans, players and everyone involved around a club can cling to glimmers of hope. For Anyang, though, this wouldn’t be a glimmer but rather a fully-blown beacon of light, reminding everyone of what they’re fighting for.

From the off this felt like it was Anyang’s day, with Thomas Oude Kotte’s impressive early opener setting the tone. The Violets then generally had a response for anything Seoul threw at them in attack, even if a Kim Young-gwon own goal brought the sides level early in the second-half. From here, the game had a bit of extra needle to it, and several cards were dished out for various reasons, but Anyang were level-headed when it mattered most, intercepting a pass from Ryu Jae-moon to spark a counter-attack that eventually led to Bruno Mota’s winner.

With back-to-back wins, Anyang now sit in ninth, while Seoul are struggling to stay consistent in their quest for a top-four finish having lost two of their last three matches.

What Else Happened in Round 28?

Unable to escape their own current slump, Jeju SK fell to a third defeat from their last five matches with a 1-0 home loss to Gwangju FC. This was a fairly even game in truth, but as Griffins boss Lee Jung-hyo knows, you have to take your chance to claim all three points when it comes. This week, it came via a 92nd-minute penalty from Park In-hyeok, one calmly taken to give Gwangju their fifth away win of the campaign, the same amount as they managed throughout the entirety of 2024.

On Sunday, Gangwon FC ended Pohang Steelers’ four-game winning streak with a solid 1-0 victory on home turf. This was impressive from the Bears, who played in transition with real purpose and threat, while defending their own box more assertively than in their midweek Korea Cup defeat. Jorge, who has had a strong season up front for the Steelers, was well-matched by defender Park Ho-young, allowing fellow centre-back Shin Min-ha to play a more natural role in defence. Having won back-to-back games, Final A doesn’t seem outside of the realms of possibility for Gangwon currently, even if remaining a top-flight team will be the primary goal ahead of their imminent AFC Champions League Elite debut.

Furthermore, Daejeon Hana Citizen moved back into third-place this weekend, beating Gimcheon Sangmu 2-1 thanks to Anton Kryvotsyuk’s 98th-minute winner. This was a necessary three points for the Purples, who have tailed-off somewhat in the second portion of the regular season, and need to ensure they can keep the pace for continental qualification in some way. Beating the teams around you will certainly help, and Daejeon will have another chance to do that when they face league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after the international break.

That’s all for this week! K League 1 action returns on the 13th September with a full weekend of fixtures, though for now it’s all about the internationals, and a chance for everyone to take stock of their ambitions.