Ulsan Hyundai Motors’ In-Jong-kyu scored a come-from-behind goal to end the disappointment of being eliminated from the national team.
Ulsan defeated Suwon FC 3-1 in the 17th round of the K League 1 on Saturday at Suwon Sports Complex. Ulsan, with 41 points, bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Jeonbuk Hyundai to reestablish its dominance.
Suwon FC (18 points) won the Suwon derby after four straight defeats, but tasted the bitter taste of defeat again and remained in ninth place.
It was Lee In-gyu who scored the winning goal 스포츠토토. With the score tied in the 42nd minute, Cho Hyun-taek’s corner kick bounced off the foot of Yoon Beom-garam, who was on the sidelines and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Despite being the top scorer in K League 1 (9 goals), he was left out of national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s June A-match call-up list.
The first goal belonged to Suwon. Lee Yong-woo’s cross from the right bounced off the head of an Ulsan defender, and the onrushing Yoon Beom-garam smashed it home with a right-footed volley.
Ulsan, however, took advantage of Suwon’s lapse in concentration. In the 24th minute of the second half, Ataru pounced on a ball that was cleared by Kim Sun-min inside the penalty area, and Martin Adam headed home the equalizer.
Ulsan’s momentum picked up as Lee In-gyu scored the equalizer. In second-half stoppage time, Bako beat one defender and sent a left-footed shot into the corner of the net to seal the match.
“Of course I’m disappointed (to not make the national team), but I can’t dwell on it,” said Lee In-gyu in a post-match interview, adding, “I think if we score more goals, there will be good results.”
Before the match, Suwon FC’s Park Joo-ho’s retirement ceremony was held. “I feel sorry for leaving in the middle of the season, but the remaining players will do a better job,” Park said, adding, “I hope to be remembered as a player who gave everything.”
Pohang Steelers won 2-1 at home against Jeju United thanks to Park Seung-wook’s “theater goal” in second-half stoppage time. With 30 points, Pohang moved into second place, dropping Jeju (28 points) to third.