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| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors this 2021. (Photo from K League United) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] SEOUL - They've dominated South Korean club football for the past two years. And Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the K League 1 champions in both seasons, and Ulsan Hyundai FC, runners-up both times, are trying to turn the 2021 season into yet another two-horse race.
Jeonbuk are sitting pretty atop the tables thanks to an eight-match undefeated run to open the season. With 20 points from six wins and two draws, Jeonbuk are three points ahead of Ulsan (five wins, two draws and one loss). Below Ulsan are three clubs all tied up at 12 points: FC Seoul, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Seongnam FC. In 2019, Jeonbuk and Ulsan were tied in points with 79 apiece, and Jeonbuk prevailed on their tiebreak edge in goals scored. FC Seoul were a distant third with 56 points.
Last year, Jeonbuk topped the table with 60 points, three ahead of Ulsan. Pohang ended in third place at 50 points. The top two contenders will try to create an even larger gap between themselves and the rest this coming weekend. Jeonbuk will have an eminently winnable match against Incheon United at 7 pm Sunday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. Incheon are stuck in 10th place with seven points.
