After narrowly missing out on the championship playoffs in the past two seasons, Gyeongnam took a massive step towards securing their place in the top six for the first time since 2007 as they travelled north to the Suwon World Cup stadium and returned with the three points after a comfortable 2-0 win over Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Gyeongnam hadn’t won for three matches prior to facing off to Yoon Sung-hyo’s side, and they had to wait until the 70th minute before Kim Young-woo made the breakthrough. Lee Yong-rae’s fourth of the season three minutes later secured the points and dented Suwon’s hopes of returning to the top six this year.
Jeju United extended their lead at the top of the standings to four points as Danilo Montecino Neco gave them a second-half winner away at Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, whilst Ulsan capitalised on Suwon’s slip-up to pull five points ahead of the Bluewings with a 3-0 home win over Chunnam Dragons. Ko Chang-hyun, Jose Maria Ortigoza Ortiz and Kim Shin-wook were all on target as Ulsan moved onto the 35 point mark.
Busan I’Park’s slim playoff hopes faded even further this weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Gangwon, whilst a late Yoo Byung-soo double ensured Huh Jung-moo earned his first victory as Incheon United manager in emphatic style as his side defeated Daegu 4-1.
In Sunday’s solitary fixture an understrength Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix, weakened due to the participation of the majority of their first-choice players in a military friendly match, lost 3-0 to Daejeon Citizen for whom Fabio Rogerio Correia Lopes hit a double including one from the penalty spot.
K-League Results (Saturday September 18th and Sunday September 19th, 2010)
Daegu 1-4 Incheon
Busan 1-1 Gangwon
Seongnam 0-1 Jeju
Ulsan 3-0 Chunnam
Suwon 0-2 Gyeongnam
Daejeon 3-0 Gwangju
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Goyang Kookmin Bank defeated Busan Transportation Corporation 2-0 in the pick of the National League action at the weekend, as goals in either half from Lee Wan-hee propelled Goyang back into contention for a championship playoff slot.
Ulsan Mipo Dockyard bounced back from their surprise midweek defeat as two goals from Kim Sung-min and a third by Marcos Vinicius dos Santos Rosa gave them a 3-1 win away at Mokpo City. Also hitting the goal trail were Daejeon Hydro & Nuclear Power who followed up that midweek victory over Ulsan with a comfortable 5-0 romp at Yesan.
Moon Byung-woo gave Incheon Korail a first-half lead away to Gimhae FC, but the visitors fell 2-1 behind eight minutes into the second half. Both sides were reduced to ten men on the hour mark, but Gimhae put that setback behind them to take a 3-1 lead through Jo Jae-hyun in the 63rd minute. Korail were boosted by Gimhae being reduced to nine men as Kim Young-kyun received his marching orders with ten minutes to go and then Park Chul-woo pulled a goal back with a header, but Jo’s second of the match six minutes before time secured the points for the home side in a 4-2 win.
Ansan Hallelujah looked to have earned a point at home to Cheonan City as they went into second half stoppage time at 1-1, but a late Moon Sun-ho strike meant the points left the Wa~ stadium with the visitors. In Changwon, home side Changwon City and Yongin City played out a goalless draw.
National League Results (Friday September 17th and Saturday September 18th, 2010)
Changwon City 0-0 Yongin City
Goyang KB 2-0 Busan TC
Gimhae 4-2 Incheon Korail
Ansan Hallelujah 1-2 Cheonan City
Mokpo City 1-3 Ulsan Mipo
Yesan 0-5 Daejeon HNP
Chungju Hummel 0-1 Suwon City
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Samcheok Sinwoo Electronics became the first K3 League side to book their place in the championship playoffs as their 3-1 win over Seoul Martyrs means they can no longer be caught by third-placed Bucheon FC 1995. Gyeongju Citizen’s surprise 2-1 defeat to Cheongju Jikji has given Bucheon hope of catching them, however Gyeongju have an eight point lead with three matches remaining though Bucheon have a game in hand before the end of the season.
Yangju Citizen missed the opportunity to close the gap on the teams in first and second as they played out a goalless draw with Pocheon. That point put Pocheon top of the standings on 46 points with Icheon Citizen a point back on 45 although Pocheon have played a game more. Yangju lie third on 39 points with both them and Icheon having four games to play.
Former Korean international defender Jang Hak-young netted his first goal for Seoul United since joining up on a two year loan deal from Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma this summer as his side secured a welcome 3-1 win away to Chunnam Youngkwang. Jang opened the scoring for the visitors and further goals from Kwak Hyo-joon and a Lee Wan penalty rounded off the win for the 2007 K3 League champions, however despite that win they are all but out of the running for a championship playoff spot.
K3 League Group A Results (Saturday September 18th, 2010)
Yongin 3-3 Jeonju EM
Asan 2-6 Bucheon FC
Seoul Martyrs 1-3 Samcheok
Gyeongju 1-2 Cheongju
K3 League Group B Results (Saturday September 18th, 2010)
Cheonan 2-3 Namyangju
Chunnam Youngkwang 1-3 Seoul United
Chuncheon 2-3 Gwangju Gwangsan
Pocheon 0-0 Yangju
