Pohang Steelers 2-1 Gyeongnam
Both sides went into Sunday’s meeting at the Pohang Steel Yard struggling for form, having picked up only one point between them in the last two rounds of fixtures.
Fourteen minutes had passed without any real goalmouth action when Getterson found Kang Sang-woo on the overlap. Kang was sent sprawling in the box and Gamalho stroked the resultant penalty into the net to put Pohang ahead.
Gyeongnam looked to respond quickly, but Marcao’s effort from distance was off target. The Brazilian striker was heavily involved in Gyeongnam’s build up play in the first half, competing well in the air to bring team mates into the game. However, Pohang marshalled him well in their own penalty area and he soon cut a frustrated figure.
Pohang’s Connor Chapman played a key role in the game’s next two chances. The Australian gave away possession cheaply in the thirty-first minute and will have been relieved when home goalkeeper Kang cut out Kunimoto’s low cross as Gyeongnam looked to take advantage. Shortly after, Chapman made a smart interception himself to find himself twenty-five yards from goal surrounded by support but couldn’t pick out the right pass and the chances was lost.
Ten minutes before the interval the hosts thought they had been awarded a second penalty as Song Seung-min went down as he tried to round Gyeongnam keeper, Son. However, after a three-minute delay for VAR consultation the decision was overturned. It looked to be the right call as Son got a good hand on the ball.
It was at this stage that Gyeongnam’s Negueba decided to get involved in proceedings. He produced a breath-taking piece of skill by the corner flag to win a free kick for his side as half time approached. The free kick was cleared, but the former Flamengo and Gremio man had got a taste for it and was involved again soon after, firing over the bar after a quick break. Gyeognam finished the half strongly and Kim Joon-beom could have pulled them level if he had connected properly with his header in first half stoppage time.
Gyeongnam started the second period with purpose, and Marcao quickly forced Kang to parry away his right-footed effort from inside the box. However, they soon found themselves two down. After making another good interception, Chapman fed the ball to Gamalho and the well-travelled Brazilian fired into the bottom corner from twenty-five yards. It was a fine goal and left the visitors facing a long way back into the game.
To their credit, Gyeongnam responded with great spirit. Negueba was unlucky to see his curling effort rebound off the post. Far from feeling sorry for himself, Negueba immediately sprinted nearly the length of the pitch to foil Pohang’s counter attack on the edge of his own penalty area. This was typical of the work ethic the visitors showed in the second half. Negueba was soon involved again as his cross-cum-shot from the left was scrambled clear. Marcao also made space for himself before shooting straight at the home goalkeeper.
While Gyeongnam pushed to get back into the game, Pohang had chances of their own. The home side passed up two golden opportunities to make the points safe in the space of sixty seconds. Bae Seul-ki hit the post when he should have hit the net after Gyeongnam failed to deal with a simple free-kick then Getterson fired straight at the goalkeeper when he could have picked either corner.
Pohang were to rue those misses after seventy-three minutes as Kim Hyo-gi grabbed a lifeline for the visitors with an overhead kick from eighteen yards. The effort was well executed and drew applause from sections of the home crowd but should have been dealt with by the goalkeeper. Regardless of the goalkeeper’s error, it was a fine piece of skill and Gyeongnam deserved their goal.
Gyeongnam now pressed on looking for the equaliser. Negueba was involved in most of their play, narrowly failing to pick out Bae Ki-jong after a promising break before winning possession deep to start a move that ended with Marcao shooting over the bar when well placed. Seconds later, Kunimoto saw his low effort come off the inside of the post and bounce clear. He hit the same post as Negueba had done half an hour previously. But if Gyeongnam were starting to sense that it wasn’t going to be their day, they didn’t let it show. The closing stages were end to end as Gyeongnam pushed for the leveller while Pohang looked to hit on the break.
Time eventually ran out for Gyeongnam. Pohang’s win leaves the sides level on points, Gyeongnam only having picked up one point from their last three games. However, they will feel that they showed enough here to look ahead with optimism. Pohang will be glad to bounce back after two consecutive defeats in the K-League. While there are questions to be asked over both sides defensively, Pohang and Gyeongnam have shown enough in the early stages to look to the rest of the season with optimism.
Round-up
Home sides were very much on top in K-League Round 7, with visiting teams failing to pick up a single point. Jeonbuk are having an excellent April and they strengthened their position at the top of the league by beating Jeonnam, now bottom of the table, 3-0. Jeonbuk now lead the table by four points from Suwon Bluewings. The Bluewings enjoyed a home win over Sangju Sangmu by two goals to one on Saturday.
There was more misery for FC Seoul as they lost to the only goal of the game at Ulsan. Also suffering at the moment are Gangwon, who went down to their fourth consecutive defeat, 2-1 at Daegu. The highest scoring game of the round saw Jeju emerge 4-2 winners at home to Incheon.
South Korea
