After two years and nine months without a win since October 2020, defending K League One champions Ulsan Hyundai snapped a two-game losing streak as Lee Dong-kyung returned from Germany with a goal and an assist.
Ulsan defeated Jeju United 2-1 at home in the 24th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at the Ulsan Munsu Stadium on 21 November.
With 56 points, absolute leaders Ulsan maintained their dominance at the top of the table, 12 points ahead of second-placed Pohang Steelers 카지노 (44 points).
For the first time since taking over in 2021, Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo snapped a two-game losing streak in league play (1-2 against Incheon and 1-3 against Suwon).
They also continued their recent winning streak against Jeju.
Jeju, on the other hand, continued their downward spiral with three draws and six losses in their last nine matches, including today’s defeat.
Jeju remained in eighth place (30-8W, 6D, 10L).
Ulsan took the lead in the 29th minute off a set piece.
Jeju’s Jeong-woon was shown an unnecessary yellow card for a violent push on Ulsan’s Kang Yoon-gu in the midfield area, which led to the goal.
Ulsan were awarded a free-kick, with returning player Lee Dong-kyung stepping up to take the spot-kick, and Kim Min-hyuk rushed into the box and finished with a non-stop left-footed volley to rattle the net.
Ulsan didn’t waste another set-piece opportunity five minutes later and added another goal with just three touches.
From a corner on the left, Lee Kyu-sung laid it low for Lee Myung-jae at the back post, and Lee Myung-jae’s one-touch pass found Lee Dong-kyung, who darted in near the penalty arc and wasted no time in connecting with a left-footed mid-range shot that found the corner of the net.
Ulsan’s Lee Dong-kyung and Kim Min-hyuk celebrate after scoring side by side. [Courtesy of the Korea Football Association].
Lee Dong-kyung, who scored the wonder goal, finished with one goal and one assist on the day, earning his first offensive point in two games since returning to action.
After a frustrating first half, Jeju opened up the game in the second half with an aggressive attack.
Jeju seemed to be stuck in a rut as their shots kept being blocked by Ulsan goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, but they managed to pull a goal back in the ninth minute of the second half.
Lee Ju-yong carried the ball into the left side of the penalty area and passed to Kim Joo-gong, who slotted the ball into the top corner of the opposite goal with his left foot.
As the second half drew to a close, both teams’ attacks intensified, with shots flying and goalkeepers Kim Dong-jun of Jeju and Cho Hyun-woo of Ulsan making a number of saves.
There were a total of seven yellow cards (three for Ulsan and four for Jeju) for both teams.
Pohang’s Han Chan-hee celebrates scoring the opening goal. [Courtesy of the Korea Football Association]
Han Chan-hee scores first, Ho-jae adds second as Pohang defeats rising Jeonbuk to stay in second place
Also at the Pohang Steelyard, the Pohang Steelers defeated visiting Jeonbuk Hyundai 2-1.
With the three points, Pohang remains in second place with 44 points (12 wins, four draws and eight losses).
Jeonbuk, who had been on a roll with three wins, one draw and a loss in their last four matches, took a breather.
Jeonbuk remained in fourth place (37 points, 11 wins, 4 draws, 9 losses).
Pohang, who controlled the game with over 60 per cent of the ball, took the lead in the 34th minute through Han Chan-hee.
Pohang’s Baek Sung-dong had a shot on goal with his right foot from the penalty line in front of the goal, but the ball hit the right post and bounced out, and Han Chan-hee’s second ball with his right foot hit the goalkeeper’s knee and went into the corner of the net.
Outnumbered, Jeonbuk struck back as soon as the second half began.
Jeonbuk scored in the first minute of the second half on a counter-attack, with Moon Sun-min chasing down a long pass from the back at high speed and finishing with his left foot from the left side of the penalty area.
The Pohang defence scrambled to clear, but the ball had already crossed the goal line.
Pohang sealed the win in the 43rd minute through Lee Ho-jae.
He took advantage of a mistake by the Jeonbuk defence, who failed to clear the ball properly on a counter-attack, and slid in a right-footed inside kick from the right side of the goal area.