Gangwon Stunned 2-1 by Phnom Penh
Gangwon FC lost 2-1 to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown in their AFC Champions League Two Group H home match at Gangneung Hi1 Arena on Oct. 15. After conceding in the 44th minute, Gangwon leveled through Abdallah’s penalty in the 61st minute, but Moses Dyer scored the winning penalty for the visitors in the 78th. It was the first official match between a Korean professional club and a Cambodian side since the K League launched in 1983. Gangwon fielded mostly young and reserve players with the domestic race for the top-six Final A in mind, and now sit on one point from two games, putting their knockout hopes in doubt. Manager Jung Kyung-ho said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t win at home. Southeast Asian football has improved, and K League teams need to take this as a wake-up call. I hope this defeat brings the team closer together.”
Source: Sports Donga
FC Seoul’s Klimala Named Player of the Month
FC Seoul striker Klimala has won the K League’s EA Sports Player of the Month award for September 2026, the league announced on Oct. 15. The award combines votes from the league’s Technical Study Group (60%), fans on the K League website (25%) and FC Online users (15%). September’s race covered Rounds 27 to 30 plus a postponed Round 22 match between Gangwon and Incheon, with Lee Myung-jae (Daejeon), Lee Yu-hyun (Gangwon), Ítalo (Jeju) and Klimala on the shortlist. Klimala finished second to Ítalo in the TSG vote but topped both the fan and FC Online polls, totaling 38.60 points to Ítalo’s 27.55. He scored three goals in four matches during the period, including a brace in the 2-1 win over Jeonbuk in Round 29 that earned him Round MVP. It is the first such award of his career.
Source: Interfootball
Ulsan Look to Rebound at Home Amid Injuries
Ulsan HD host Bucheon FC 1995 in Round 32 of K League 1 at Munsu Football Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. In their previous match, Ulsan lost 4-3 to Gwangju FC, who had gone 28 matches and seven months without a win, and now trail leaders FC Seoul by 18 points. Injuries have piled up as well: Cho Min-seo has a partially torn medial ligament in his left knee and striker Malcom is rehabbing a left hamstring strain, with no return date set for either. Sim Sang-min (right hamstring) is also out. Still, Ulsan have been strong at home, going 8-1-6 in 15 league home games, and their current three-game home winning streak ties their season best, so a win over Bucheon would make it four. The key man is Lee Dong-gyeong, who has 11 goals and 11 assists this season and scored in both meetings with Bucheon.
Source: Interfootball
Slumping Pohang Face Must-Win vs Anyang
The Pohang Steelers are in a deep slump ahead of a match against FC Anyang that could decide their shot at the top-six Final A. Pohang have won just one of their last eight competitive games (1-3-4) and slipped to ninth. On Oct. 13, they lost 2-0 at home to Johor Darul Ta’zim in the AFC Champions League Elite after defender Jeon Min-gwang was sent off late in the first half, their second straight defeat in the competition, and on Oct. 9 they fell 3-0 at Incheon United after conceding three times before halftime. Scoring is also a problem: they earned 11 corners against Incheon without a goal, and have been shut out in five of their last eight games. Their 28 goals in 31 league matches are the second-fewest. On 40 points, three behind sixth-placed Daejeon (43), Pohang host eighth-placed Anyang (41), winners over Ulsan and Gimcheon, on Oct. 18 before visiting Ulsan on Oct. 24.
Source: Sports Kyunghyang
Anyang’s Mateus Wins Goal of the Month
FC Anyang’s Mateus has been named the K League’s Goal of the Month winner for September 2026. The vote covered goals from Rounds 27 to 30 of K League 1, with Mateus and Gangwon FC’s Karim as the finalists. Mateus found the net with a powerful long-range strike in the 27th minute against Ulsan HD in Round 30, while Karim found the corner with a precise long shot in the 20th minute against Anyang in Round 27. In a three-day fan vote from Oct. 8 to 10, Mateus received 2,388 votes (61.9%), ahead of Karim’s 1,468 (38.1%). The winner receives 1 million won in prize money and a trophy. The Korea Professional Football League also plans to make a replica trophy signed by Mateus and auction it for charity. Anyang visit Pohang on Oct. 18 as they push for a place in the Final A.
Source: Interfootball
Gimcheon Denied 2027 K League 1 License
The Korea Professional Football League’s club licensing committee met on Oct. 12 and completed its review of licenses for the 2027 K League 1 season. Of the 29 clubs that applied, 28 were approved, with Gimcheon Sangmu the only exception. Gimcheon Sangmu did not receive a 2027 license because its home-city agreement with Gimcheon ends after the 2026 season. Gimpo FC and Chungbuk Cheongju FC were granted conditional approval. Gimpo’s annual external audit reports were found to have left out key financial matters, including embezzlement allegations raised since 2023, so the club must undergo a new external audit. The committee did not rule on the allegations themselves, as legal proceedings and a special audit by Gimpo City are under way. Chungbuk Cheongju must submit a facility repair plan for Cheongju Sports Complex 30 days before its 2027 home opener because of safety issues.
Source: Interfootball