FC Seoul four points from first title in 10 years
K League 1 leaders FC Seoul are closing in on their first title in a decade. Seoul beat Jeju SK 2-1 in Round 31 on the 10th to move to 20 wins, five draws and six losses (65 points). The next day, second-place Ulsan HD lost 4-3 to Gwangju FC, leaving an 18-point gap between the two. With seven matches left, Seoul need just four more points to clinch their first league title since 2016 and seventh overall, regardless of other results. They could even clinch early if Ulsan fail to beat Bucheon FC on the 17th and Seoul beat Gimcheon Sangmu on the 18th. With K League 2 leaders Suwon Samsung also on a five-match winning streak, the “Super Match” would return to K League 1 next year for the first time in four years if both clubs win their divisions.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
Lee Dong-gyeong chases back-to-back MVP awards
Ulsan HD’s Lee Dong-gyeong is chasing a second straight MVP award. He has 11 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances this season. Having recorded 13 goals and 12 assists (25 goal contributions) in 36 matches last season, he is seen as needing to top that mark to stay in the MVP race. He currently has 22, with two regular rounds and five final-round matches left, so it is well within reach. If he wins, he would be only the second player in K League 1 history to win the MVP in consecutive seasons, after Lee Dong-gook (2014 and 2015). However, MVPs usually come from the champions, and players from likely winners FC Seoul, such as Klimala, are also in contention. With Ulsan falling out of the title race after a 4-3 loss to Gwangju on the 11th, Lee’s individual numbers matter even more.
Source: Interfootball
Pohang host Johor in ACLE at Steelyard
Pohang Steelers host Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in Matchday 2 of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite league stage at Pohang Steelyard on the 13th at 7 p.m. Pohang lost 3-1 to Beijing Guoan in their opener and have also been struggling in the league. After playing home matches in Sangju for much of this season because of stadium construction and other reasons, Pohang return to the Steelyard for the first time in a while. Johor are on a 113-match unbeaten run in their domestic league and rely heavily on foreign players, many with big-league experience. At a press conference on the 12th, manager Park Tae-ha admitted the team was underprepared for the opener and said Pohang would face Johor in an organized way. Kim Dong-jin, who joined him, said the fans’ support back at the Steelyard would give the team a big lift.
Source: Interfootball
Daejeon seek second ACLE win in Shanghai
Daejeon Hana Citizen face Shanghai Port in Matchday 2 of the 2026-27 ACLE league stage at Shanghai’s Pudong Stadium on the 13th at 7 p.m. KST. Daejeon beat J1 League side Kyoto Sanga 1-0 in their opener for their first win on the Asian stage in 23 years, with Babsin scoring the winner from long range in the 78th minute. Shanghai have won three straight Chinese Super League titles and are coached by Australian Kevin Muscat, who led Yokohama F. Marinos to the J1 title. Former Ulsan HD forward Leonardo is also in their squad, and they beat Ratchaburi 6-4 in their opener. Manager Hwang Sun-hong stressed that the team would not settle for one win, saying, “Everything doesn’t end with one match.”
Source: Interfootball