After Matchday 12, the title race of K League 1 seems to go in favour of Ulsan Hyundai, as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors again failed to put three points in their pocket while their rivals registered another victory.
The two Hyundai teams are now three points apart.
K League
Ulsan narrowly beat Kim Byeong-soo's Gangwon FC at their home, Ulsan Munsu Stadium. The game-winning and the only goal was again from the most dangerous Brazilian, Junior Negrao. Junior scored from a penalty in the 29th minute which was awarded after Seo Min-woo's challenge.
But it was Jo Hyun-woo who contributed the most to Ulsan's win. The South Korean international, who played a pivotal role in Korea's famous 2-0 victory over Germany in the 2018 World Cup, has again made some crucial saves. The most essential one came in at the very last minute when Lee Hyeon-sik's shot deflected off Won Du-jae and sent Jo the wrong way. If this one had gone in, Ulsan would've earned only one point instead of three.
That was not the scenario for Jeonbuk. The Motors only grabbed a draw against the rock-bottom club of Incheon United. Ji Eon-hak scored first in the 5th minute which was his second of the season and the moment scoring two games in a row. Thankfully, Lee Seung-ki's left-footed strike in the 77th minute brought the game back to all-squared.
It surely is an excellent result for managerless Incheon. Although they are still at the bottom and keen to get the first victory, the last two games showed very decent and positive performance. Jeonbuk, however, has only managed to get two points in total over the previous three games. Jose Morais would need to find a way to bounce back.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings have recently joined Incheon as a second team in the league to be parted ways with the manager. Before last weekend's matchup, the manager Lee Im-saeng has resigned from his post, and Joo Seung-jin filled up his place as an interim manager. Ongoing rumours said that Lim was sacked and not quitting himself, but until now there is no concrete confirmation for it.
But unlike Incheon, Suwon failed to earn points after changing the manager. They lost to Seongnam FC 0-1 at Suwon World Cup Stadium. Lee Chang-yong's header from the corner driven by Jamshid Iskanderov in the 81st minute differentiated both teams.
Suwon couldn't produce a single win in last five leagues, although they got one in the FA Cup over Jeju United earlier last week. Seongnam finally came out from long winless run which lasted for seven games.
K League 2
In the meantime, another Suwon-based club in K League 2 bagged three points again and climbed up to the top, thanks to An Byong-jun, the most dangerous North Korean in the South. Suwon FC hammered wealthy bank-owned club Daejeon Hana Citizen 4-1 at their home. Two Japanese-born players, An Byong-jun and Masatoshi Ishida produced a brace.
Ishida, commonly known as 'Masa', scored in the 12th minute with a curling ball and the 89th minute by putting Lars Veldwijk's deflected shot in. An, on the other hand, scored from a penalty before the end of the first half, and powerfully stroke the fourth for his team at the last minute. Daejeon only managed to score one, which went in at the 75th-minute mark, composed by Bruno Baio.
Suwon and An Byong-jun are both at the top. Suwon is the league topper with 22 points, and An is currently the top scorer of the league, scoring 11 goals out of 11 games.
J League
Finally, a green light signal is enlightened for Kashima Antlers in J.League 1. After losing six consecutive games this season, Kashima finally clinched the first victory against the reigning champions Yokohama F.Marinos. Young Japanese international Ayase Ueda's brace in the 4th and 58th minute, Everaldo's primary goal at Kashima in the 67th minute and Ryohei Shirasaki's cheeky lob in the 82nd minute helped the Antlers dominate the Marinos, who produced only two goals.
Kashima finally moved out from the bottom thanks to this victory and placed at 15th. Yokohama, on the other hand, has shown bad form and dropped down to 14th.
Rest of the Region
While Korea and Japan showed some competitive games, fans in Taiwan and Mongolia witnessed some real goal-fests.
In Taiwan Football Premier League, the defending champions Tatung FC comfortably hammered NTUS 7-1 thanks to Ange Samuel and Chang Hao-wei's brace. At the same time, current league topper Taipower FC narrowly beat the bottom side Taipei Red Lions 5-4.
In the Mongolian Premier League, two newly-promoted sides lost to parallel league powerhouses. UB Mazaalainuud lost to the 2020 Super Cup winner Khaan Khun's Erchim 0-6, and Sumida-Gepro were beaten by Athletic 220 1-8. Athletic 220's captain and Mongolian international Naranbold Nyam-Osor scored six goals in one match. Both Mazaalainuud and Gepro have lost all of their three games, having conceded 14 and 30 goals respectively.
