Former national team manager Huh Jung-moo’s first match in charge of Incheon United ended in stalemate as his new side could only draw 1-1 against Busan I’Park at a storm-damaged Incheon Munhak stadium on Saturday.
Huh, who resigned from his national team position after leading the nation to the last sixteen at the 2010 FIFA World Cup this summer, saw free-scoring striker Yoo Byung-soo miss a second half penalty before Jung Sung-hoon gave visitors Busan the lead in the 72nd minute. Incheon were behind for just three minutes however as Brazilian forward Bruno Cesar Correa netted his first for the club and ensured a share of the spoils.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who began the weekend at the top of the standings, tumbled down to third as they required a Namkung Do goal five minutes from time to rescue a point away to lowly Daegu. Seongnam’s slip allowed Jeju United to return to the summit as goals from Gu Ja-cheol and Bae Ki-jong overturned a Carmelo Enrique Valencia opener for visitors Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i to move Jeju up to the 40 point mark.
There were three points and three goals for FC Seoul at home to Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix as Kim Jin-kyu, Dejan Damjanovic and Choi Hyo-jin were on target for Nelo Vingada’s side and put them clear in second place a point behind leaders Jeju.
An Enio Oliveira Junior penalty right on the stroke of half time put Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ahead at home to Pohang Steelers, and though Jung Hong-yeon drew the visitors level four minutes after the break further strikes from Lee Dong-guk and Krunoslav Lovrek extended the lead to 3-1. Lee Jin-ho pulled one back for the Steelers with seven minutes to go but there was to be no comeback and Jeonbuk moved above the idle Gyeongnam into fourth.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings’ remarkable turnaround under Yoon Sung-hyo reached new heights as their 2-1 win away to Gangwon moved the club into a playoff position for the first time this season. Suwon, who were rock bottom of the league table with just two wins and seven points when former manager Cha Bum-keun stepped down in June, recorded their seventh win and extended their unbeaten league run to nine matches under former Soongsil University manager Yoon in Gangneung. Jose Roberto Rodrigues Mota fired in a stunning 25 yard effort to open the scoring in the 64th minute, and then Naohiro Takahara doubled the lead with a fine effort ten minutes later. Jose Mota did put through his own net in injury time but the points left with the Bluewings who are now up to sixth place on 30 points.
In Gwangyang, Chunnam Dragons earned a 3-0 victory over the hapless Daejeon Citizen, a result which saw Citizen drop to the foot of the standings.
K-League Results (Saturday September 4th, 2010)
Daegu 2-2 Seongnam
Jeonbuk 3-2 Pohang
Jeju 2-1 Ulsan
Chunnam 3-0 Daejeon
Gangwon 1-2 Suwon
FC Seoul 3-0 Gwangju
Incheon 1-1 Busan
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In the National League Busan Transportation Corporation, Ulsan Mipo Dockyard and Gangneung City all remain joint-top of the second stage table as the three sides picked up fine victories at the weekend.
Lee Yong-seung’s 76th minute goal against Mokpo City was enough for Busan to remain top of the standings on goal difference, whilst Ulsan came out on top against on-form Chungju Hummel by the same scoreline thanks to a second half Kim Ho-yu effort. Gangneung also picked up three points by a 1-0 scoreline as Ko Min-ki was on target in Cheonan to wrap up the points.
First stage winners Daejeon Hydro & Nuclear Power slumped to their third defeat of the second stage as an Oh Chul-suk double gave Yongin City victory whilst Incheon Korail, who remain second in the overall standings, could only manage a goalless draw away at Suwon City. Ansan Hallelujah recorded a morale-boosting 3-1 win at home to Yesan whilst the match between Changwon City and Gimhae finished goalless.
National League Results (Friday September 3rd and Saturday September 4th, 2010)
Cheonan City 0-1 Gangneung
Suwon City 0-0 Incheon Korail
Ansan Hallelujah 3-1 Yesan
Busan TC 1-0 Mokpo City
Changwon City 0-0 Gimhae
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Seoul United fell victims to what was undoubtedly the surprise result in this weekend’s K3 League action as they went down 4-1 to a Gwangju Gwangsan side that had picked up just one point and scored only seven times in their previous eight matches.
Bucheon FC 1995′s 3-2 win over fourth placed Jeonju EM in Group A helped them keep pace with second-placed Gyeongju Citizen who enjoyed a 4-1 win away at Yongin. With leaders Samcheok idle this weekend Gyeongju cut the gap between first and second to three points by moving onto the 45 point mark, and Bucheon lie in third place on 37 points.
Group B’s third-placed side Yangju Citizen sat out the weekend’s fixtures so both Icheon Citizen and Pocheon FC were able to extend the gap between them and the rest of the championship playoff contenders. Icheon sit top of the table on goal difference from Pocheon with both sides level on 42 points whilst Yangju are third on 38.
K3 League Group A Results (Saturday September 4th, 2010)
Goyang 0-5 Cheongju
Jeonju 2-3 Bucheon
Seoul Martyrs 1-2 Asan
Yongin 1-4 Gyeongju
K3 League Group B Results (Saturday September 4th, 2010)
Cheonan 0-3 Chuncheon
Gwangju Gwangsan 4-1 Seoul United
Icheon 4-1 Namyangju
Pocheon 1-0 Chunnam Youngkwang
