Pohang confirm Champs League spot

Pohang Steelers, who play Al Ittihad in Saturday's AFC Champions League final in Tokyo, confirmed their place in next year's continental competition by finishing second in the K-League table ahead of the play-offs.

Midfielder Hwang Jin-sung scored in the 11th minute as Pohang beat reigning champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 on Sunday to finish ahead of FC Seoul on goal difference after both teams finished on 53 points.

FC Seoul, managed by Senol Gunes, reached the quarter-finals of this year's AFC Champions League, but will now rely on the K-League play-offs to secure a spot in next year's competition.

Jeonbuk Motors, led by K-League top scorer Lee Dong-gook, topped the table on 57 points. Jeonbuk will contest the championship play-off final against Pohang or the winners of the preliminary play-offs between the teams ranked third to sixth.

The top three teams in the K-League play-offs and the winners of Sunday's FA Cup final between Suwon and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma will compete in next year's AFC Champions League.

Pohang will be competing in the AFC Champions League for the third successive time after qualifying for the last two events by winning the K-League in 2007 and the FA Cup last year.

The Steelers reached this year's AFC Champions League final by winning their semi-final 4-1 on aggregate against Qatar's Umm Salal, who had beaten FC Seoul in the quarter-finals.

Al Ittihad are also assured of a place in next year's AFC Champions League after they won the 2008-09 Saudi Pro League.

Pohang win Korean League Cup

Pohang Steelers kept alive their hopes of an unprecedented treble in South Korea as they lifted the League Cup by thrashing Busan I'Park 5-1 in the second leg to win 6-2 on aggregate.

The victors, who face Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan in first leg of the Asian Champions League quarter-finals on September 23, are also going strong in K-League, sitting in third place.

The first game of this two-legged final was played two weeks ago and ended 1-1 on the south coast.

In front of a packed Steelyard, Pohang took advantage in the second leg by swiftly taking a 3-0 lead.

After six minutes, Noh Byung-joon shot towards the Busan goal but Hwang Jin-sung got his head in the way to direct it past the visiting goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later it was 2-0 when Denilson broke into the Busan half and from just outside the area unleashed a low shot that flew into the bottom corner.

When veteran playmaker Kim Ki-dong fired high into the net just after the half-hour mark, the game seemed to be over.

Immediately after the restart, however, Busan were back in the game thanks to a Yang Dong-hyun header.

It was a short-lived fight back from the spirited Busan, who fell further behind thanks to a long-range strike from Hwang and a late fifth from Kim Tae-su.

"The player did a good job but there is still a long way to go this season," said Pohang coach Sergio Farias.

"Still, it is good to lift the first trophy of the year."

Busan coach Hwang Sun-hong was philosophical in defeat.

"I hope that we can learn from this loss and bounce back," said the 2002 World Cup star.

"Today's defeat can be a turning point for our players."

K-League Sunday Review

FC Seoul saw their lead at the top of the K-League trimmed to just a single point after suffering a third loss in four - 1-0 at the hands of Seongnam Ilhwa - as second-placed Jeonbuk Motors downed Jeju United.

After the recent League Cup semi-final loss at the hands of Pohang Steelers, Seoul suffered a second straight K-League defeat as defender Kim Sung-hwan steered an inviting free-kick from former Colombia international Mauricio Molina calmly past goalkeeper Kim Ho-jun after just five minutes.

Jeonbuk, who also have a game in hand on the leaders, made ideal preparations for next weekend's meeting with Asian Champions League quarter-finalists Seoul as two goals in two minutes from Lee Hyun-sung set up a 4-2 comeback win at home to Jeju.

Ricardo Olivera opened the scoring for the visitors after 27 minutes but 10 minutes later Lee equalised for Seoul before completing the turnaround.

Cho Hyung-jae pulled Jeju level 10 minutes after the restart, but with 18 minutes remaining Brazilian striker Luis restored Jeonbuk's lead before Brasilia wrapped up the win.

"If we prepare well we can win at Seoul next weekend," said Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee. "This match wasn't an easy one for us so I am very happy that we won."

Third-placed Pohang Steelers were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw at home by Daejeon Citizen to fall five points off the pace, while fourth-placed Incheon United saw their play-off hopes hit as they were held to a goalless draw by basement side Daegu.

Elsewhere, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I's recent good form continued with a comfortable 3-1 win at home to Busan I'Park.

Gyeongnam made it three wins out of three with a 4-1 win over Chunnam Dragons, while defending champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings drew 3-3 with Gangwon.

K-League Sunday Review

Leaders FC Seoul crashed to a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Ulsan Horang-I in the K-League to see their advantage at the top of the table cut to four points.

Seoul had the best of the first-half but Ulsan took control after the break with two goals in quick succession.

A Hyun Young-min free-kick from the left after 63 minutes was headed home from close range by Lee Won-jae to give the visitors the lead.

Six minutes later, Ulsan caught the hosts on the counter-attack and Yeom Ki-hoon received the ball just inside the area before driving a fierce shot into the far corner of the net for his first goal of an injury-hit season.

Seoul poured forward in search of a way back into the match but were unable to penetrate the Ulsan backline.

The result means that Ulsan climb from 14th to 11th.

Jeonbuk Motors move back into second above the inactive Pohang Steelers with a 2-0 win at Daejeon Citizen.

After a goalless first half, the league's leading goalscorer Lee Dong-guk grabbed his 15th of the season with 20 minutes remaining and Brasilia added a late strike to seal the win.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma kept their hopes of a place in the play-offs alive by defeating their rivals for the top six Jeju United 2-1 thanks to second-half goals from Kim Jin-yong and Dzenan Radoncic.

In the day's other fixture, Gwangju Sangmu ended their six-match losing streak by drawing 2-2 at Gangwon FC.

Korean League Cup Review

Noh Byung-joon's second half hat-trick handed Pohang Steelers a 5-2 victory over nine-man FC Seoul to set up a League Cup final meeting with Busan I'Park.

In the battle of South Korea's representatives in the quarter-final of the Asian Champions League, Pohang overturned the 2-1 deficit from last week's first leg in Seoul to advance 6-4 on aggregate.

Busan advanced to next month's two-legged final, which will take place on September 2 and 16, 3-1 on aggregate after Park Hee-do's stoppage-time strike secured a 1-0 second-leg victory over Ulsan Horang-I.

At the Steelyard, K-League leaders Seoul built on their first-leg advantage as midfielder Ki Sung-yong opened the scoring after 20 minutes.

Noh pulled a goal back immediately after the break, but Lee Sung-ryeol restored the two-goal advantage midway through the second half.

But Yoo Chang-hyun struck twice in three minutes to level the tie with 15 minutes remaining before a brace from Noh in the last six minutes sent Pohang through.

Seoul had Kim Chi-woo and Kim Chi-gon sent-off, while Kim Hyung-il received his marching orders for Pohang.