K League 1 Gameweek 18

Daejeon Citizen 2 - 2 FT Ulsan Hyundai FC

Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
61
FT
Sat, Jul 18
한국어
Daejeon Citizen
2-2
Ulsan Hyundai FC
⚡ Intensity 49
⚖️ Balance 62
🏆 Stakes 33
🎲 Upset 34
A remarkable comeback at Daejeon.

Tale of Two Halves at Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. A desperate fight for relegation safety collided with upper-table ambition in a thrilling draw that showcased the unforgiving nature of top-flight football.

The Opening Act

The hosts understood the perilous Stakes of their ongoing relegation battle and attacked the early stages with breathtaking pace. Daejeon Citizen controlled possession with 55% of the ball, dictating the tempo and restricting their opponents inside their own half. Their early Intensity was richly rewarded in the 11th minute when Ha Chang-Rae fired home an exceptional opener following a slick, defense-splitting pass from Lee Myung-Jae. The stadium erupted as the momentum entirely favored the hosts. Sensing blood, they continued to press high up the pitch, and by the 24th minute, Seo Jin-Su doubled the advantage by finishing off a brilliant sequence initiated by Kang Yun-Sung. The visitors looked completely shell-shocked by the relentless pressure, struggling to string passes together as the home side dominated the crucial early exchanges.

The Pivot

Just as the home crowd began to celebrate a seemingly comfortable cushion and dream of three vital points, the match’s entire Balance shifted completely right before the interval. In the 44th minute, Ulsan Hyundai FC found a vital lifeline out of absolutely nowhere. Lee Dong-Gyeong managed to unlock the stubborn defensive line with a perfectly weighted delivery into the penalty area, allowing Choi Seok-Hyun to find the back of the net with a clinical finish. That crucial strike just seconds before the halftime whistle completely altered the psychological landscape of the fixture. It transformed what looked like a routine home victory into a tense, nerve-wracking affair, giving the visitors genuine belief as they marched down the tunnel. The momentum had abruptly changed hands in a flash.

Resolution

The second half saw the visitors mount relentless pressure to capitalize on their newfound momentum, pushing their defensive line higher and forcing the hosts into a low block. Their tactical persistence eventually paid off in the 67th minute when Choi Seok-Hyun netted his second goal of the match, completing the dramatic comeback entirely unassisted. Despite a high Upset Factor early on, the hosts simply could not weather the late storm, and the spoils were ultimately shared. For Daejeon, throwing away a commanding two-goal lead keeps them deeply entrenched in the dangerous bottom zone, leaving supporters frustrated by what could have been. Conversely, Ulsan will undoubtedly view this salvaged point away from home as a brilliant testament to their resilience in the broader context of their top-half campaign.

Key Questions

How did Daejeon Citizen complete the comeback from behind?

Contrary to the premise, Daejeon Citizen actually surrendered a 2-0 advantage, allowing the visitors to fight back and secure a 2-2 draw.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
55%
45%
Daejeon Citizen 55%
Ulsan Hyundai FC 45%
Shots on Target
3
4
Daejeon Citizen 3
Ulsan Hyundai FC 4
Corners
6
3
Daejeon Citizen 6
Ulsan Hyundai FC 3
Fouls
7
6
Daejeon Citizen 7
Ulsan Hyundai FC 6
Yellow Cards
1
0
Daejeon Citizen 1
Ulsan Hyundai FC 0
Red Cards
0
0
Daejeon Citizen 0
Ulsan Hyundai FC 0

Match Events

11' Ha Chang-Rae (Lee Myung-Jae)
24' Seo Jin-Su (Kang Yun-Sung)
Choi Seok-Hyun (Lee Dong-Gyeong) 44'
HT
Erick Farias Yago Cariello 🔄 46'
M. Trojak T. Oude Kotte 🔄 46'
57' 🔄 Diogo Oliveira Joo Min-Kyu
57' 🔄 Um Won-Sang Joao Victor
Lee Gyu-Seong D. Bojanic 🔄 66'
H. Lee Lee Jin-Hyun 🔄 66'
Choi Seok-Hyun 67'
77' 🟨 Lee Myung-Jae
82' 🔄 Seo Jin-Su M. Ishida
82' 🔄 G. Ludwigson Jeong Jae-Hee
87' 🔄 Joao Victor H. Lee
Choi Seok-Hyun Seo Myung-Guan 🔄 88'
FT

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
04/26/2026 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 4 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
07/23/2025 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 2 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/01/2025 Ulsan Hyundai FC 2 - 3 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
02/23/2025 Daejeon Citizen 0 - 2 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
09/27/2024 Daejeon Citizen 0 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
05/25/2024 Ulsan Hyundai FC 4 - 1 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/02/2024 Daejeon Citizen 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
09/16/2023 Ulsan Hyundai FC 1 - 1 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
05/28/2023 Ulsan Hyundai FC 3 - 3 Daejeon Citizen K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/16/2023 Daejeon Citizen 2 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
04/26/2026
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
07/23/2025
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/01/2025
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
02/23/2025
K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
09/27/2024
K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
05/25/2024
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/02/2024
K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
09/16/2023
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
05/28/2023
K League 1 Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
04/16/2023
K League 1 Daejeon World Cup Stadium
Daejeon Citizen Win
Ulsan Hyundai FC Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 FC Seoul 18 39 31 13 +18 WBucheon FC 1995 1 - 3 FC Seoul (19-07-2026)DFC Seoul 0 - 0 Gangwon FC (12-07-2026)WFC Seoul 1 - 0 Incheon United (05-07-2026)WDaejeon Citizen 1 - 2 FC Seoul (16-05-2026)WGwangju FC 0 - 1 FC Seoul (12-05-2026)
2 Gangwon FC 18 31 23 11 +12 WGangwon FC 2 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (18-07-2026)DFC Seoul 0 - 0 Gangwon FC (12-07-2026)WJeonbuk Motors 1 - 2 Gangwon FC (04-07-2026)WGangwon FC 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC (17-05-2026)WGangwon FC 2 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-05-2026)
3 Jeonbuk Motors 18 29 25 16 +9 LIncheon United 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (18-07-2026)WUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 3 Jeonbuk Motors (11-07-2026)LJeonbuk Motors 1 - 2 Gangwon FC (04-07-2026)WJeonbuk Motors 1 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (17-05-2026)DBucheon FC 1995 0 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (13-05-2026)
4 Pohang Steelers 18 28 19 16 +3 LJeju United FC 2 - 1 Pohang Steelers (18-07-2026)WGwangju FC 0 - 3 Pohang Steelers (11-07-2026)WFC Anyang 2 - 3 Pohang Steelers (04-07-2026)LBucheon FC 1995 2 - 0 Pohang Steelers (17-05-2026)WIncheon United 0 - 1 Pohang Steelers (12-05-2026)
5 Ulsan Hyundai FC 18 28 26 26 0 DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Ulsan Hyundai FC (18-07-2026)LUlsan Hyundai FC 1 - 3 Jeonbuk Motors (11-07-2026)DGwangju FC 1 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC (05-07-2026)LGangwon FC 2 - 0 Ulsan Hyundai FC (17-05-2026)WUlsan Hyundai FC 2 - 1 Jeju United FC (13-05-2026)
6 FC Anyang 18 24 23 20 +3 DFC Anyang 1 - 1 Gwangju FC (19-07-2026)WIncheon United 0 - 1 FC Anyang (12-07-2026)LFC Anyang 2 - 3 Pohang Steelers (04-07-2026)WJeju United FC 1 - 2 FC Anyang (17-05-2026)DFC Anyang 2 - 2 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (13-05-2026)
7 Incheon United 18 24 22 19 +3 WIncheon United 1 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (18-07-2026)LIncheon United 0 - 1 FC Anyang (12-07-2026)LFC Seoul 1 - 0 Incheon United (05-07-2026)WIncheon United 4 - 0 Gwangju FC (16-05-2026)LIncheon United 0 - 1 Pohang Steelers (12-05-2026)
8 Jeju United FC 18 23 16 18 -2 WJeju United FC 2 - 1 Pohang Steelers (18-07-2026)DJeju United FC 0 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-07-2026)DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Jeju United FC (05-07-2026)LJeju United FC 1 - 2 FC Anyang (17-05-2026)LUlsan Hyundai FC 2 - 1 Jeju United FC (13-05-2026)
9 Daejeon Citizen 18 19 21 20 +1 DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Ulsan Hyundai FC (18-07-2026)DJeju United FC 0 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-07-2026)DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Bucheon FC 1995 (04-07-2026)LDaejeon Citizen 1 - 2 FC Seoul (16-05-2026)LGangwon FC 2 - 0 Daejeon Citizen (12-05-2026)
10 Bucheon FC 1995 18 19 15 21 -6 LBucheon FC 1995 1 - 3 FC Seoul (19-07-2026)DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Bucheon FC 1995 (11-07-2026)DDaejeon Citizen 2 - 2 Bucheon FC 1995 (04-07-2026)WBucheon FC 1995 2 - 0 Pohang Steelers (17-05-2026)DBucheon FC 1995 0 - 0 Jeonbuk Motors (13-05-2026)
11 Gimcheon Sangmu FC 18 16 17 25 -8 LGangwon FC 2 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (18-07-2026)DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Bucheon FC 1995 (11-07-2026)DGimcheon Sangmu FC 1 - 1 Jeju United FC (05-07-2026)LJeonbuk Motors 1 - 0 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (17-05-2026)DFC Anyang 2 - 2 Gimcheon Sangmu FC (13-05-2026)
12 Gwangju FC 18 9 9 42 -33 DFC Anyang 1 - 1 Gwangju FC (19-07-2026)LGwangju FC 0 - 3 Pohang Steelers (11-07-2026)DGwangju FC 1 - 1 Ulsan Hyundai FC (05-07-2026)LIncheon United 4 - 0 Gwangju FC (16-05-2026)LGwangju FC 0 - 1 FC Seoul (12-05-2026)