Photo Credit:Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images AsiaPac-Zimbio
The 2018 K-League season got underway this weekend with round one stretching from Thursday to Sunday.
Champions Jeonbuk kicked off their title defence with a 2-0 win at home to Ulsan on Thursday with veteran striker Lee Dong-gook opening the scoring and Han Kyo-Won adding the second. Both sides will be in AFC Champions League action this midweek. Jeonbuk, who top Group E with maximum points from their first two matches, were the only one of the K-League’s four AFC Champions League representatives to win in round one. They take on second-placed Tianjin Quanjian on Wednesday. Ulsan also face Chinese opposition as they travel to face Group F leaders Shanghai SIPG.
There was disappointment another Champions League group stage participant as Suwon Bluewings went down 2-1 at home to Jeonnam Dragons. Suwon face Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday in what could be a pivotal match in Group H.
In Thursday’s other match FC Seoul defended resolutely to see out a 0-0 draw at last season’s runners up Jeju United in a game of few chances that will have left both sides reflecting on their lack of a cutting edge. Next up for Jeju is a Champions League trip to face Guangzhou Evergrande.
On Saturday Pohang Steelers signalled a possible awakening from back-to-back finishes in the bottom half of the league with a 3-0 success against Daegu. Brazilian striker Leo Gamalho struck twice in a boost for Pohang as they look to fill the gap left by the departure of last season’s top scorer Yang Dong-Hyun to J-League side Cerezo Osaka.
Serbian striker Uros Deric grabbed a goal on his debut as Gangwon opened with a 2-1 victory over Incheon on Saturday. Australian internationalist Dylan McGowan also made his debut for Gangwon as a second half substitute. Incheon were wasteful, but will have been cheered by a well-taken goal from new signing Stefan Mugosa.
In the final match of round one newly-promoted Gyeongnam got their campaign off to a fantastic start with a 3-1 home win against Sangju Sangmu on Sunday.
Global Football
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