Ulsan’s Explosive Duo Lee Dong-gyeong and Yago Determined to Go All the Way to the Title

Lee Dong-gyeong and Yago, who have been leading the recent surge of K League 1 side Ulsan HD with stellar performances side by side, are fueling their determination to ride this momentum all the way to the top.

Ulsan is currently sitting in second place with 37 points, riding a three-match winning streak in K League 1.

While FC Seoul still occupies the top spot, Ulsan has narrowed the gap through its winning streak, making the league increasingly thrilling as it moves past the midway point of the season.

At the center of this run are franchise star and last season's K League 1 MVP Lee Dong-gyeong, and Brazilian sharp-shooter Yago, who has made a complete resurgence.

During the 22nd-round away match against Pohang Steelers on the 8th, Lee Dong-gyeong assisted Seo Myung-gwan's second-half header with a free kick, laying the foundation for a 2-0 victory.

Including this, Lee has been on fire with attacking points in five consecutive matches (4 goals, 3 assists), displaying an MVP-caliber pace following last year.

Having already accumulated 15 attacking points (9 goals, 6 assists) this year, he is poised to surpass his record from last season (25 points).

In particular, Ulsan has been maximizing Lee's strengths through a tactic that deploys him as a "false nine."

Through the Ulsan club, Lee explained, "I think defenders feel a lot of confusion when I drop back to receive the ball. They seem to struggle with how far they should follow me, which makes me feel like I can receive the ball easily, and in the attacking zone, I pick up speed to advance, which I think leads to scoring chances."

If Lee wins the MVP award again this year, it would mark the first time in 11 years since Lee Dong-gook (now retired) in 2014–2015 that a player has won it in consecutive years, and set a rare record of Ulsan producing an MVP for five straight years. However, Lee stated that he has zero ambition for awards or personal records.

He emphasized, "When I was asked about my personal goals at the start of the season, I thought it would be nice to get even one more attacking point than last year, but without thinking much about it, I suddenly heard that I was keeping pace. I will continue to do my best, thinking that records will naturally follow if the team wins."

Along with the "Lee Dong-gyeong false-nine" tactic, another noticeable feature in Ulsan's recent matches is "joker Yago."

Yago, who leads the K League 1 scoring charts with 11 goals this season—including his second-half insurance goal against Pohang—has notably tasted goals in three consecutive games after starting on the bench and being substituted in.

Yago stated, "Every player feels the same way about playing time. I also want to receive more time," while adding, "Such decisions are entirely up to the discretion of the manager and coaching staff, and I respect them. I will do my best with the opportunities I receive to help the team."

He said, "It feels extremely exhilarating to score right after coming in. In the match against FC Anyang, I came on when we were trailing and earned a penalty with my play, and we were able to use that momentum well to turn the game around," adding, "Especially winning in front of our home supporters is the best moment."

Ulsan will host Gangwon FC at the Munsu Football Stadium at 7:30 PM on the 16th for a 23rd-round home match.

If they manage to win even this match against a top-tier competitor, the championship race could truly descend into fog.

Lee expressed his resolve, saying, "Since our performance wasn't good last year, I’ve been working hard to avoid such results this year, communicating with the players, and chasing the leaders from a good position. Being in the chasing position feels more comfortable," and added, "I hope we can smile at the very end this year. I hope it becomes a season where everyone ends up happy."

Yago also emphasized, "Right now, helping the team by securing points and victories is the top priority rather than personal thoughts. Ultimately, winning the K League 1 is our goal."

Encouraging Yago, Lee said, "I hope he scores around 25 goals this season. Then the team will be able to win the championship," and added, "He's a friend with high spirits who brightens the mood with a 'dance time' when we win, so I hope to see that side of him a lot in the second half of the season."

Responding to Lee, Yago replied, "We are creating synergy with each other's goals and assists, and I hope our scoring pace continues to rise and leads to good results. I hope we continue to develop together, create greater synergy, and march toward our goal of winning the title."

(Photo courtesy of Ulsan HD, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.