K League Round Up (10-25/26)

In today’s “K League Round Up”, we look at the split. Who’s made the championship half? Who’s battling relegation? Is the title chase over, and was there some shady refereeing in Ulsan’s 4-3 thriller over Seongnam? Also, the K League Challenge. Did Daejeon finally claim the title or are they ensuring that this goes down to the wire?

K League Classic Results – Round 33

Pohang Steelers 3-0 Sangju Sangmu
Jeonbuk Motors 1-0 Suwon Samsung
Seongnam FC 3-4 Ulsan Hyundai
FC Seoul 1-1 Busan IPark
Gyeongnam FC 1-0 Jeju United
Incheon United 3-3 Jeonnam Dragons

K League Classic Table – Round 33
[table “” not found /]

  • Jeonbuk’s win over Suwon gives them a 10 point gap with 15 points left to play for. The title could be wrapped up next weekend if the results go their way (more on this later).
  • Pohang’s attack finally came back to life as they put three past a sliding Sangju side. Kim Jae-sung, Kim Seung-dae, and Kim Hyung-il were the scorers. They tighten their grip on the final AFC Champions League spot.
  • FC Seoul only managed a draw against Busan, but that result combined with Jeju’s loss sees the capital club move up to fourth place on goal difference.
  • Ulsan spotted Seongnam a two-goal lead late, but they roared back with three goals in a 12 minute span to win 4-3. There was a bit of controversy around Ulsan’s equalizer, a penalty, as there was minimal contact.
  • Jeonnam also staged a big comeback to draw 3-3 with Incheon, but Ulsan’s win meant that they were destined for the relegation half regardless of their result.
  • Gyeongnam sprang a late winner on Jeju through Stojanovic to move them off the bottom and up to the playoff spot. They’re just goal difference (although a significant one, -9 vs -21) away from safety.

Remaining Fixtures – Championship Half

Jeonbuk: at Seoul, at Jeju, vs Pohang, at Suwon, vs Ulsan
Suwon: at Ulsan, vs Seoul, at Jeju, vs Jeonbuk, at Pohang
Pohang: vs Jeju, vs Ulsan, at Jeonbuk, at Seoul, vs Suwon
Seoul: vs Jeonbuk, at Suwon, vs Ulsan, vs Pohang, at Jeju
Jeju: at Pohang, vs Jeonbuk, vs Suwon, at Ulsan, vs Seoul
Ulsan: vs Suwon, at Pohang, at Seoul, vs Jeju, at Jeonbuk

  • Should Jeonbuk defeated Seoul and Suwon lose to Ulsan in round 34, then Jeonbuk would be champions (13 point lead, 12 to play for)
  • Seoul and Jeju (currently level on 50 points) will meet each other in the final round (possible AFC CL spot battle)

Jae’s Predicted Finish (wild guess)

1. Jeonbuk
2. Pohang
3. Suwon
4. Jeju
5. Seoul
6. Ulsan

Remaining Fixtures – Relegation Half

Jeonnam: vs Seongnam, at Gyeongnam, at Busan, vs Sangju, vs Incheon
Incheon: vs Gyeongnam, at Busan, vs Sangju, vs Seongnam, at Jeonnam
Busan: at Sangju, vs Incheon, vs Jeonnam, at Gyeongnam, at Seongnam
Seongnam: at Jeonnam, at Sangju, vs Gyeongnam, at Incheon, vs Busan
Gyeongnam: at Incheon, vs Jeonnam, at Seongnam, vs Busan, at Sangju
Sangju: vs Busan, vs Seongnam, at Incheon, at Jeonnam, vs Gyeongnam

  • Virtually every game is vital for the bottom sides, the teams are so close to each other in terms of points
  • Busan (33 pts) – last two rounds, at Gyeongnam and at Seongnam could decide things. Both are away and Busan has been poor on the road. However, they beat Seongnam in Tancheon 4-2 earlier this season and has been equal to Gyeongnam.
  • Seongnam (31 pts) – round 35 (at Sangju), round 36 (vs Gyeongnam), and round 38 (vs Busan). Losses to either of the teams below them could see them slip into the relegation spots. Beating Busan on the final day could help them escape any problems they’re in.
  • Gyeongnam (31 pts) – rounds 36-38 (at Seongnam, vs Busan, at Sangju). Gyeongnam’s future will likely be decided in the last three matches.
  • Sangju (29 pts) – Sangju will likely need to pick up all nine points against Busan, Seongnam, and Gyeongnam in order to get out of the relegation places.

Jae’s Predicted Finish (again, wild guess)

7. Jeonnam
8. Incheon
9. Seongnam
10. Busan
11. Gyeongnam
12. Sangju

K League Challenge Results – Round 33

Gwangju FC 1-0 Daejeon Citizen
Ansan KP 1-0 Gangwon FC
FC Anyang 1-2 Bucheon 1995
Goyang Hi 2-4 Daegu FC
Suwon FC 3-0 Chungju Hummels

K League Challenge Table – Round 33
[table “” not found /]

  • Daejeon contrive to lose again, this time to Gwangju. Thus putting title/promotion celebrations on hold for at least a few days.
  • Ansan kept their slim title hopes alive as they beat Gangwon. Those title hopes would end though if they fail to beat Gwangju next weekend.
  • Anyang managed to lose to bottom club Bucheon to dent their hopes of skipping out on the first round of the playoff.
  • Gangwon’s loss + Gwangju’s win see the gap for the final playoff spot decreased to a sole point.
  • Suwon FC also won last weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive.
  • Daegu, currently 7th, also won to just stay alive in the playoff race
  • Ditto Goyang, even though they lost.
  • Chungju and Bucheon remain spoilers so far down are they
About Jae Chee 340 Articles
A football fan who got bit by the writing bug.

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