The K League 1 Wrap-Up: Daejeon Gain Daylight, Seoul are Finding Form, and Anyang Return to Winning Ways | OneFootball

With Daejeon Hana Citizen extending their lead at the top of the table, FC Seoul starting to find confidence, and FC Anyang winning for the first time since the opening round, Nathan Sartain returns to recap round five of the 2025 K League 1 season.

With their 1-0 away victory over Gangwon FC, it feels like FC Seoul are starting to build some upwards momentum. The capital city side can now boast three consecutive clean-sheets, and although two of those games ended in goalless draws, there’s a real security about the team’s play in a general sense.

Of course, when taking an overall look at things, Seoul’s start to the campaign hasn’t been the most inspiring, but a disappointing opening round defeat to Jeju SK aside, the team are unbeaten in four, and now sit in fourth. That’s a strong platform to build from, and something that will give Kim Gi-dong and his squad confidence heading into the international break.

Daejeon Hana Citizen's First-Place Delight

It may have taken two injury time goals to secure three points for Daejeon Hana Citizen this weekend, but their 3-1 win against Jeju SK has ultimately left them two points clear at the top of the table. On the whole it wasn’t the Purples’ best performance, and they could have found themselves trailing had their opposition been a bit more clinical in the first-half, but the fact is when you have players like Joo Min-kyu scoring goals, as well as confidence behind the squad at large, there’s always a strong chance of a good result.

For Daejeon to gain daylight, it did mean Ulsan HD dropped points for only the second time this season. This happened via a 1-1 draw for the Horangi with Suwon FC, but the reality is last season’s league leaders had to battle back from behind against resurgent opponents, so may well take the fact they have extended their unbeaten run to four. However, Ulsan did have a missed penalty and disallowed goal in the second-half, so then again perhaps they will feel they should have earned more from the game instead.

Regarding any other early in-form sides, Gimcheon Sangmu and Gwangju FC played out a 0-0 draw, extending the latter’s streak as the only unbeaten side in the division, but meaning the former stay fairly comfortably behind first-place (for now at least).

FC Anyang's Second K League 1 Win

After three consecutive defeats, FC Anyang returned to winning ways with another 1-0 away victory, this time at Daegu FC. A positive result has certainly been coming for the Violets, who have looked competitive so far this year, and shown some real glimpses of quality. So, while it may have taken some fortune - a Daegu defensive error - to take the lead on Saturday, Anyang can be proud of how they managed the game, and potentially look forward now, rather than worry about any compounding negative form.

Daegu, on the other hand, will want to prevent themselves from falling into a rut following successive home defeats, and see an away clash with FC Seoul in a couple of weeks as an opportunity to try reigniting their attacking spark against a sturdy defence.

Positive Signs for Pohang Steelers and Suwon FC?

As we reach the end of round five, it is still only Pohang Steelers and Suwon FC who are without victory. Yet you’d argue both teams ended up with positive results in round five, maybe signalling something for the pair to work from.

With Suwon FC, they were unplayable at times in the first-half against Ulsan HD, gaining noticeable momentum after new signing Luan Dias put them ahead. And, while they were outclassed in the second period, there are enough signs that this team, and Kim Eun-jung, have enough to address their problem areas. Ultimately though, winsare the best currency for showing your mettle, and those will have to come after the international break.

Pohang, meanwhile, earned a 2-2 comeback draw away at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Again, it was a game of two halves, with the Green Warriors in total control initially, only to find themselves pegged back from a long-range effort early in the second-half. Then, thanks to a red card for Han Kook-young, Pohang were handed the initiative, able to fashion more chances for themselves, and ultimately earn a respectable draw. However, they need more, so will have to prove they can find their feet when they face Gwangju FC next weekend in the rescheduled round four fixture.

That’s all for this week. With the table looking extremely tight in places, there’s certainly all to play for as the year progresses, and it's hard to cast any grand predictions this early.