FC Seoul, the current leader of K League 1, saw their winning momentum stall after a 1-2 defeat to Jeju SK in an away match held on the 9th at Jeju World Cup Stadium during the 13th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 season.
With this loss, Seoul remains at 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses) and has now gone three consecutive games without a win (1 draw, 2 losses), clinging nervously to the top spot. After losing 2-3 at home to Gimcheon Sangmu in the 11th round, they followed up with a 0-0 draw against Anyang at home. The defeat in Jeju means Seoul has earned just one point from their last three matches.
Early in the season, Seoul seemed unstoppable, charging ahead with a formidable run that sparked talk of a “Seoul Spring” and a potential title push. However, recent performances have raised growing concerns. In this match, Seoul conceded the opening goal to Park Chang-jun in the 18th minute of the first half, and then allowed a second goal to Kim Jun-ha just eight minutes into the second half. Although Huis scored a consolation goal in the 57th minute, Seoul failed to break through Jeju’s solid defense and couldn’t secure any points.
While Seoul struggles, the two Hyundai brothers—Jeonbuk Hyundai (21 points) in second place and Ulsan HD (20 points) in third—are putting the leader under pressure. Both teams have played one game less than Seoul. Ulsan faces Anyang away on the 10th, while Jeonbuk hosts Bucheon at home on the same day. If both secure three points, they will close the gap significantly and ignite a fierce battle for the top spot.
Jeonbuk Hyundai is riding a worrying wave of momentum. The defending champions have won three consecutive matches, rediscovering their dominance. In these three games, they have scored an impressive nine goals, reviving their attacking prowess. The team’s strength lies in their ability to score from multiple sources, not relying solely on one player. Tiago and Lee Dong-jun (both with 3 goals) lead the attack, while players like Moda, Lee Seung-woo, and Jo Wi-je (each with 2 goals) are always capable of finding the net. Additionally, Jeonbuk has conceded only two goals during their winning streak, showing much-improved defensive stability compared to the early season. If they beat Anyang away, Jeonbuk will achieve their first four-match winning streak this season. Historically, Jeonbuk has won all four previous encounters with Anyang, giving them strong confidence in claiming another three points.
Ulsan, hosting Bucheon at home, relies heavily on their foreign strikers, with Yago (6 goals) ranked second and Malkin (5 goals) ranked fourth in the scoring list. While Ulsan’s attack is potent, their defense remains a concern, having conceded the third-most goals in the league. However, the return of veteran defender Kim Young-gwon is expected to add much-needed stability to the backline.
