Jeong Jae-hee netted a last-gasp equalizer as defending champions Pohang Steelers grabbed a dramatic, 2-2 away draw against Jeju United in the semifinals at the Korea Cup football tournament Wednesday.
Jeong scored in the final seconds of 10-minute stoppage time in the opening leg of the semifinals at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo on the southern island of Jeju.
Kim Ju-kong and Yuri Jonathan had a goal apiece to put Jeju up 2-0 just 10 minutes into the match, before Jeon Min-kwang responded for the visitors late in the first half.
Jeong then rescued Pohang from the brink of a defeat with a right-footed curler from the left side of the box.
This is the rematch of last year’s one-legged semifinals, when Pohang prevailed 4-3 on penalties after the teams were knotted at 1-1 following 120 minutes of action.
Jeong Jae-hee of Pohang Steelers (C) celebrates after scoring against Jeju United during the first leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Je
ju Island, on Aug. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Jeong Jae-hee of Pohang Steelers (C) celebrates after scoring against Jeju United during the first leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, on Aug. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Pohang went on to win their fifth Korea Cup title last year, when the event was called the FA Cup, and they pulled into a tie with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon Samsung Bluewings for most titles at the top national tournament.
With both Jeonbuk and Suwon long out of this year’s tournament, Pohang have a chance to win their record sixth title. They will host the second leg at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, some 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Yago Cariello of Ulsan HD FC celebrates after scoring against Gwangju FC during the first leg of the semifina
ls of the Korea Cup football tournament at Gwangju Football Stadium in the southern city of Gwangju on Aug. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Yago Cariello of Ulsan HD FC celebrates after scoring against Gwangju FC during the first leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Gwangju Football Stadium in the southern city of Gwangju on Aug. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier Wednesday, Ulsan HD FC held off Gwangju FC 1-0 in their semifinal match, thanks to Yago Cariello’s goal in the 55th minute at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul.
Ulsan had lost their four previous meetings against Gwangju, dating to last September.
Ulsan controlled the match early, with Gwangju playing without many of their regulars, but couldn’t put one past goalkeeper No Hee-dong, who was making his tournament debut.
Then 10 minutes after the rest
art, Yago Cariello, simply called Yago, took advantage of No’s miscue.
No tried to pass the ball back to a teammate, but Ulsan midfielder Jung Woo-young intercepted it. Yago then pounced on the loose ball and poked it through No’s wickets for the 1-0 Ulsan lead.
Gwangju upped their attacking pressure in the latter portions of the second half. Moon Min-seo put one into the Ulsan goal during stoppage time but was promptly ruled offside.
Their return leg is 7 p.m. next Wednesday at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
The one-legged final will be Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
