K-League 25th matchday: Yoo warms up for Japan with hat-trick

Yoo Byung-soo celebrated his call-up to the Korean national team squad for this week’s friendly with Japan in fine style as he hit his second hat-trick of the season in Incheon United’s 3-3 draw at home to Daejeon Citizen.

Yoo’s three goals, which took him to twenty for the current campaign, saw Huh Jung-moo’s side race into a 3-0 lead against strugglers Daejeon and looked to have secured all three points for his side. Daejeon mounted a massive comeback in the second half however as Kwon Jip pulled a goal back on the hour, and then first Hwang Ji-yoon and finally Woo Seung-je struck in the final six minutes to pull the match back remarkably to 3-3.

Both Jeju United and FC Seoul enjoyed fine victories at the weekend to further strengthen their hold on the top two places. Leaders Jeju put four past Gangwon, including a double for Kim Eun-jung, with a Kim Young-hu penalty right at the death scant consolation for a Gangwon side who now have the worst goals against column in the league. In Seoul, visitors Gyeongnam took a second minute lead through Seo Sang-min and held that advantage until the 76th minute when Jung Jo-guk levelled with his seventh of the season. Further strikes from Ha Dae-sung and then Jung’s eighth league goal of 2010 put the home side 3-1 up, and though Kim In-hwan ensured a nervy final few minutes after his left-footed effort found the net Nelo Vingada’s side held on to win 3-2.

Pohang Steelers picked up their first win since August 22nd courtesy of Lee Jin-ho’s second half strike against Gwangju Sangmu Phoenix, and Suwon Samsung Bluewings recorded their tenth win of the season at home to Chunnam Dragons by the same scoreline.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ 1-0 win away at Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i looks to have ended Suwon’s hopes of breaking into the top six as Jeonbuk and Ulsan occupy fifth and sixth respectively and are level on 41 points, seven ahead of seventh placed Suwon with the Bluewings having just four matches remaining.

At the Busan Asiad stadium, AFC Champions League semi-finalists Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma were held to a surprise goalless draw by Korean FA Cup finalists Busan I’Park, a result which means Seongnam moved up to third on goal difference ahead of Gyeongnam.

K-League Results (Saturday October 9th, 2010)
Pohang 1-0 Gwangju
Ulsan 0-1 Jeonbuk
Busan 0-0 Seongnam
Incheon 3-3 Daejeon
FC Seoul 3-2 Gyeongnam
Gangwon 1-4 Jeju
Suwon 1-0 Chunnam