Gimcheon Sangmu FC players celebrate their 2-0 win over Daegu FC in a K League 1 match at Gimcheon Stadium in Gimcheon, some 190 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 29, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jul. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — The race for the South Korean football title took another interesting turn over the weekend, with clubs near the top trading places once again.
Gimcheon Sangmu FC climbed to first place with a 2-0 win over Daegu FC on Saturday, which gave them 39 points through 20 matches with 11 wins, six draws and three losses.
Two-time defending champions Ulsan HD FC had a chance to regain the top spot Sunday but instead lost 2-1 to Pohang Steelers in their second “East Coast Derby” of the season.
Ulsan now trail Gimcheon by one point at 38, from 11 wins, five draws and four losses. Pohang, with just one loss in their past six contests, are right behind Ulsan with 37 points.
These three clubs have occupied the top three spots virtually all season long, and with 18 matches to go, the picture isn’t any clearer.
Gimcheon have now won three straight matches, tied with FC Seoul for the longest active streak. Ulsan, on the other hand, suffered their first loss in six matches after conceding two goals within the first 20 minutes of the rivalry match against Pohang.
Hong Yun-sang of Pohang Steelers (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Ulsan HD FC during the clubs’ K League 1 match at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, some 260 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on June 30, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Both Gimcheon and Ulsan will play Friday night. Gimcheon will try to extend their winning streak to four when they visit Incheon United. Ulsan will face Suwon FC, who are in fifth place with 33 points despite a -2 goal difference.
At the other end of the table, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors remained stuck in last place after falling to FC Seoul 5-1. Jeonbuk still have not won a match under new head coach Kim Do-heon, with two draws and four losses since the former midfielder took the reins at the end of May.
With 16 points, Jeonbuk are two points back of Daejeon Hana Citizen. The last-place team in the K League 1 each season will be directly relegated to the second-tier K League 2 for the following year.
The K League introduced the promotion-relegation system in 2013, and Jeonbuk, who have won more championships than any club with nine, would be by far the most accomplished club to be relegated.
Last year, four-time champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings were relegated for the first time, and they will need a strong push the rest of the season to earn promotion back to the top competition.
(Yonhap)
