Pohang Steelers made the most of their early goal, continuing their winning streak with a 1-0 victory over Incheon United on May 12 at the Incheon Football Stadium. Lee Ho-jae’s second-half penalty proved decisive, keeping the team unbeaten in four matches (3 wins, 1 draw).
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The win moved Pohang to 6 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses (22 points), tightening the race at the top. Notably, the Steelers have won all six matches this season when scoring first.
Pohang started in a 4-4-2 formation, with Lee Ho-jae and Jo Sang-hyuk leading the attack. The midfield featured Eo Jeong-won, Ki Sung-yueng, Kim Dong-jin, and Hwang Seo-woong, while the defense was anchored by Kim Ho-jin, Jeon Min-gwang, Park Chan-yong, and Kang Min-jun. Hwang In-jae guarded the goal.
Incheon also employed a 4-4-2 setup, with Park Ho-min and Park Seung-ho up front. The midfield was handled by Jeong Chi-in, Jeong Won-jin, Seo Jae-min, and Kim Seong-min, while Lee Ju-yong, Park Gyeong-seop, Kim Geon-hee, and Choi Seung-gu formed the backline. Kim Dong-heon was in goal.
Both teams came into the match on strong runs—Incheon unbeaten in two, Pohang in three. Before the game, Pohang sat fourth and Incheon fifth, separated by just one point. However, Incheon was missing key striker Mugosa due to injury, and defenders Lee Sang-ki (suspension) and Juan Ibitsa (yellow card accumulation) were also absent. Incheon coach Yoon Jung-hwan said they prepared for different tactics in each half.
Pohang, playing consecutive away games due to home stadium issues, faced fatigue. Coach Park Tae-ha acknowledged the physical burden but believed the team’s momentum could help overcome it. “The players’ energy and organization are good, and we need to push through this risk to reach the next level,” he said.
The first significant chance came in the 12th minute when Jo Sang-hyuk headed in from a corner, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Incheon responded in the 23rd minute with a long-range shot from Park Seung-ho that hit the post. In the 30th minute, Incheon’s Jeong Won-jin was injured in a collision and replaced by Lee Myung-ju.
Pohang won a penalty in the 39th minute after Eo Jeong-won was fouled inside the box. Lee Ho-jae stepped up and calmly converted to give Pohang a 1-0 lead at half-time.
At the start of the second half, Pohang substituted Hwang Seo-woong for Juninho, but Incheon pushed harder. Jeong Chi-in launched a counterattack, and Lee Myung-ju forced a save from the Pohang keeper in the 49th minute. Incheon made further changes, bringing on Lee Cheong-yong and Ferrier in the 57th minute, while Pohang replaced Ki Sung-yueng and Kim Dong-jin with Kim Seung-ho and Nishiya Kenta.
Incheon continued to press, with Jerso breaking through in the 80th minute but firing into the side netting. Pohang held firm defensively to secure the 1-0 away victory.