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Korean K.League Soccer News - October 2005

John Duerden reports on the endgame of the K. League's second stage

The K-League season is divided into two stages; the winners of each stage and the two teams that accumulate the most overall points, meet in a semi-final format in the championship play-offs.

Busan I'Park (already qualified)

Busan won the first stage but have picked up just two points in the second, despite the fact that the stage is two-thirds over.

The south-coast team has an excuse or two however. Ian Porterfield and his charges have been busy in the AFC Champions League, jetting off to Qatar in September to knock local champions Al-Sadd out of the competition in the quarter-finals only to be thrashed by reigning Asian champions Al-Ittihad in the semi-final round.

With a place already booked in the end of season play-offs and the ultimately unsuccessful but tiring Champions League campaign, it is no surprise that Busan have taken their eye off the ball in the second stage.

However, the boss will be unhappy at losing six out of eight games. Losing becomes a habit and with the title at stake in November, it's time for the four-time champs to start winning.

The team hasn't been playing badly and should have won at least a couple of games, not least at home to Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i.

I'Park scored their second goal in the 84th minute of that game to go two up but over the next, crazy, four minutes, Ulsan scored three times to take the points.

Contenders

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma

The sight of Seongnam sitting on the top of the league is a familiar one to all those who follow Korean football and the six-time title winners have hit form at the perfect time.

2004 and the first half of 2005 were disappointing ones just south of Seoul.

Especially so after the preceding three years had seen a hat-trick of titles but the arrival of Brazilian striker Mota between the end of the first stage and the beginning of the second has kick-started Chunma's season.

The Brazilian spent 2004 at Chunnam Dragons and became the top scorer of the K-League, form that earned him a move to Sporting Lisbon.

The striker's time in the Portuguese capital wasn't productive however and Seongnam manager Kim Hak-bum was delighted to welcome him back east.

Mota has linked up with 2003 top scorer Kim Do-hoon and the two hit it off immediately, scoring eight goals in their first two games together as the powerhouse destroyed Chonbuk Motors and Incheon United.

Seongnam look to be the favourites for the second stage title and even if they fail, a place in the play-offs is more than possible due to their overall point total, though the team's two final games are tough ones, away at Ulsan and home to Pohang.

Daegu FC

A poor first stage wasn't too much of a surprise as the team has struggled since joining the league in 2003 and the lack of points that were put on the board from May to July also means that the south-easterners must win the second stage outright to enter the play-offs.

However, as late summer became autumn, Daegu shocked their competitors by beating most of them. In the team's short history, a leaky defence outweighed a prolific attack but coach Park Jong-hwan has solved that problem.

Having played one game more than the leaders, the odds are not in Daegu's favour though with Sandro Hiroshi and the emerging Jin Soon-jin in attack, the light blues are in with a shout.

Incheon United

United have been in the league a year less than Daegu but in 2005, only the club's second season, they have become a resilient and consistent outfit.

Coach Jang Woe-ryeong has assembled a tough team of reliable Korean performers, captained excellently by the experienced Seo Dong-won in midfield, as well as eastern Europeans such as Jasmin Agic and Dzenan Radondic.

Incheon lie top of the overall table and with four points from the remaining four games would be enough to see the team book its place in the play-offs.

Such an achievement would be deserved, especially after missing the first stage title by a point, and a testament to the hard work that has been done in the West Coast city in the past few months.

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

The Tigers are always there or thereabouts and this season is no exception as they are third in the second stage and second overall.

With three wins in the last three games, it would be a surprise if Ulsan aren't one of the play-off quartet for the second season running, especially with national squad members such as Lee Chun-soo, Kim Jung-woo, Kim Jin, Yoo Sang-cheol and new young starlet, midfielder Lee Ho.

The remaining trio of games with Pohang, Seongnam and Chonbuk looks reasonably tough but the K-League's perennial bridesmaids will be invited to the ceremony one more time.

Bucheon SK

After years spent at the bottom, Bucheon have a decent chance of extending their season.

Unsung heroes like Choi Cheul-woo and Koh Ki-goo in attack have led the line well and have been supported by a miserly defence.

Jang Hae-song, Guus Hiddink's former assistant has worked miracles in the city of a million squeezed between Seoul and Incheon.

The team's four remaining games are a mixed bag and at least six points will be needed - it's going to be tough.

Pohang Steelers

Pohang's place in the play-offs is under threat from Bucheon and it is not difficult to see why as nine second stage games have seen the Steelers' fans celebrating goals only seven times.

International striker Lee Dong-gook has been out of sorts and last year's runners-up have failed to convince in any department.

The big game will be at home to Ulsan and defeat at the Steelyard then could cost Sergio Farias's team their chance, especially as it is followed by a trip to Seongnam.

K. League Second Stage

K. League Overall Standings

John Duerden

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