FC Seoul has created a new history in the K-League. The power of FC Seoul was incredible. A whopping 52,600 people flocked to the Sangam Beol on Wednesday, the first day of the three-day holiday for Children’s Day. Seoul recorded 51,670 people at its home opening match against Incheon United this season. It was the highest number of spectators in a single K-League 1 match since the tally of paid spectatorship in 2018. The record was broken in just two months. The “matchup” was also fantastic. Ulsan HD was also able to challenge to win its third consecutive K-League 1 title. The first and second floors were filled with visitors. The “comfort” for Ulsan laughed even louder. It gained another 1-0 victory over Seoul on the day. It was a battle of Iljin and Iljin. The game seemed to end with a draw. However, a variable appeared right before the end of the game. Ataru headed Hwang Seok-ho’s cross, and the ball hit Seoul’s Choi Jun’s arm. As the play continued, a VAR referee took the lead. A penalty kick was declared after an on-field review. The goal was scored in the 46th minute of extra time. Martin Adam succeeded neatly. Ulsan continued to lead 19 consecutive games (14 wins and 5 draws) without loss against Seoul.
It is the fifth consecutive win of the year. Ulsan has confirmed its advance to the FIFA Club World Cup on behalf of Asia next year. However, it failed to overcome the threshold of the Asian Champions League final on April 24. There was no comma to recover from the pain. There was a killer schedule for the K-League 1 – Jeju (3-1 win), Daegu (2-1 win), and Seoul – that required three games a week. Ulsan was Ulsan. Two years have passed since the “winning DNA” took root, not the “second place” all year round. It did not collapse. It garnered upset wins against Jeju and Daegu, and theater wins against Seoul. Moreover, the match between Daegu and Seoul was an away game.
With 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss), Ulsan briefly regained the lead. It was the first time in 48 days since March 17. The fate changed again in the ensuing match between the Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai. Pohang won 1-0 with Kim Jong-woo’s theater goal in the 49th minute of extra time in the second half. With Park Tae-ha taking the helm this season, Pohang maintained its lead with 24 points (7 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss). Ulsan ended its No. 1 ranking in the league in 90 minutes. 먹튀검증
But Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo had a bigger smile. He brought up the marathon. “Current No. 1 doesn’t mean much. It will turn upside down. I have won wire-to-wire for the past two years, and it has been very difficult. It is also very difficult to keep coming in first place from the front. I have more leeway when I finish second and third. If you keep running the 42.195km marathon as the lead, you will be hit by all the wind.” Ulsan also has one less game to play in the K-League 1 due to its ACL schedule.
The K-League 1 never stops raining. Even in the rain, two games a day filled the three-day holiday. Gimcheon Sangmu, which was on par with Ulsan, was one step behind with a draw. On Thursday, the team invited Incheon to its home turf to take a 2-0 lead, before dedicating two goals to draw 2-2. Gimcheon ranked third with 21 points (6 wins, three draws, and two losses). The race for fourth place is also interesting. Gangwon FC came from behind to win 2-1 in an away match against Suwon FC on the day, advancing to the “Big Four.” Gangwon FC (19 points) and Suwon FC (11 points) both have 15 points. Gangwon was ahead of them in terms of multiple points. Seoul and Jeonbuk, which were lagging behind Ulsan and Pohang respectively, have yet to find a way out despite the “Big Three” prospects. Seoul scored 12 points (3 wins, three draws, five losses), and Jeonbuk, which has been mired in consecutive losses, only scored 10 points (2 wins, four draws, five losses).