FC Seoul has solidified its position at the top of the K League 1 table, securing a victory in the first match since the league resumed following a month-and-a-half break for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup.
In the 16th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium today (July 5), Seoul defeated Incheon United 1-0, thanks to Jung Seung-won's first goal of the season.
Having won two consecutive matches before the break, Seoul extended its winning streak to three with this victory.
With these 3 points, Seoul remains in first place with 35 points (11 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses), while Incheon stays at 21 points (6 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses).
Incheon dominated the early stages of the match with intense high pressing.
Seoul struggled to find its rhythm, failing to record a single shot in the first half while focusing heavily on defense.
Despite controlling the game, Incheon failed to capitalize on key opportunities until the 36th minute.
During a Seoul corner kick, Gerso utilized his speed to launch a counterattack.
After breaking down the left flank toward the penalty area, he passed to Seo Jae-min on the right. Seo took a touch before firing a shot, but it was blocked by goalkeeper Koo Sung-yun.
In the 3rd minute of the second half, Lee Dong-ryul found the net off a cross from Gerso, but the goal was disallowed after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review confirmed an offside position.
Seoul, mounting a counterattack, finally recorded its first shot in the 11th minute of the second half.
Jung Seung-won won an aerial duel and headed the ball down to Anderson, who took a touch and shot, but the attempt was thwarted by the defensive efforts of Kim Gun-hee and Juan Ibiza.
In the 24th minute of the second half, Incheon intensified its attack by substituting Mugosa, who returned from injury, for Fereira.
However, it was Seoul that increased its attacking pressure in the second half, finding the winning goal in the 35th minute.
Receiving a pass from Son Jung-bum, Jung Seung-won cut inside from the right side of the penalty area and fired a left-footed shot that curled into the bottom left corner of the goal.
After scoring his first goal of the season, Jung celebrated by taking off his jersey and holding up the back of it, which displayed his name, toward the cameras.
Meanwhile, Ulsan HD drew 1-1 against Gwangju FC in an away match at the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, failing to protect Yago's opening goal after conceding an equalizer to Moon Min-seo.
Ulsan sits in second place with 27 points (8 wins, 3 draws, 5 losses), but the gap with league leaders Seoul has widened to 8 points.
Ulsan had to settle for a single point despite goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo starting just five days after returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong coming on as a substitute four days after his return.
Bottom-placed Gwangju, which has now gone 14 consecutive matches without a win (4 draws, 10 losses), reached 8 points (1 win, 5 draws, 10 losses).
Despite Ulsan being tied 0-0 with Gwangju—which had only one shot compared to Ulsan's eight in the first half—Ulsan capitalized on an opponent's mistake just 9 minutes into the second half to finally open the scoring.
Yago intercepted a backpass from Ju Se-jong intended for the goalkeeper near the right side of the Gwangju half, and fired a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area. With his 7th goal of the season, Yago is now one goal behind the league's top scorer, Lee Ho-jae (Pohang, 8 goals).
However, Gwangju restored balance quickly.
In the 19th minute of the second half, a cross from the right side of the Ulsan half was controlled by Jung Ji-hoon on the left side of the penalty area; he laid it back for Moon Min-seo, who scored with a right-footed strike to level the match.
Ulsan brought on Lee Dong-gyeong for Lee Jin-hyun in the 25th minute of the second half in search of a winner, but could not find the back of the net.
In stoppage time, a right-footed shot by Ulsan's Trojak hit the goalpost, and the match ended in a draw.
Gimcheon Sangmu and Jeju SK also ended in a 1-1 draw at the Gimcheon Stadium.
Gimcheon, which has gone winless in its last 5 matches (2 draws, 3 losses), remains in 11th place with 15 points (2 wins, 9 draws, 5 losses).
Jeju, winless in its last 3 matches (1 draw, 2 losses), stays in 8th place with 19 points (5 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses).
Jeju was led by coach Jung Jo-gook, as head coach Sergio Costa was absent following a red card received for protesting a disallowed goal during an away match against Ulsan on May 13.
A chaotic situation occurred in the 32nd minute of the first half when Jeju forward Negueba and Gimcheon defender Byun Jun-soo were both sent off.
As Jeju attempted to build an attack from its own half, Negueba was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after striking Byun Jun-soo in the face with his arm while trying to shake him off.
Byun Jun-soo, who had already received a yellow card earlier, was also sent off after being issued a second yellow card for pulling Negueba from behind, which was deemed the cause of the incident.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 25th minute of the second half.
Gimcheon's Park Cheol-woo intercepted a clearance by Jeju goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun near the left sideline of the midfield and fired a left-footed shot into the empty net.
Gimcheon's lead did not last long.
In the 28th minute of the second half, Tobias headed in a cross from Oh Jae-hyuk during a corner kick to secure a draw.
It was Tobias's debut goal in the K League.
(Photo: Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League, Yonhap News)