Jeonbuk, Ulsan to clash for title

The final in South Korea’s first-division football this year will pit the league’s biggest offensive juggernaut against the little engine that could.

The regular season champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will take on Ulsan Hyundai FC in the two-game championship series for the K-League. The first leg is this Wednesday at 6:10 p.m. in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The second leg will be at Jeonbuk’s home of Jeonju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The aggregate score after the two games will determine the K-League champion.

Jeonbuk finished first in the regular season with 18 wins, three losses and nine draws. The Motors scored 67 goals in those 30 games, the most among 16 K-League clubs. They’re seeking their second championship after winning their first in 2009.

Ulsan clinched their playoff berth as the sixth and last seed on the final day of the season. It put up 13 wins, 10 losses and seven ties, and scored only 33 goals in all, tying for fourth fewest in the league. Ulsan is after its third K-League title, and first since 2005.

Jeonbuk is a deep team with All-Star-caliber players at different positions and was seen as a title contender even before the season. Ulsan, a gritty squad that captured the K-League Cup in July, was only seen as a borderline playoff club in preseason.

Ulsan did have K-League’s stingiest defense, giving up only 29 goals. But Jeonbuk head coach Choi Kang-hee said he believes his team’s offense will prevail in the final.

“Even good defensive teams give up goals,” Choi said at a press conference. “We haven’t been as good when we became too defensive, so we’re going to come out attacking. We’re confident against any club.”

Kim Ho-gon, Ulsan’s head coach, said his players will try to remain patient against Jeonbuk.

“We will look to keep Jeonbuk at bay and capitalize on our chances when they come,” Kim said. “In football, you never know when the opportunities may open up.” 

(Yonhap News)