Steelers Snatch League Cup Title
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Pohang Steelers won the K-League Cup title Wednesday after routing Busan I'Park 5-1 to make it 6-2 on aggregate.
In the second leg of the finals at the Steel Yard in Pohang, Hwang Jin-sung scored two goals and Denilson Martins Nascimento, Kim Gi-dong, Kim Tae-su each added one to lift the Steelers to their first league cup title since 1993.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Game 1 on Sept. 2 in Busan.
Pohang's five goals are the most by one team in cup final history and the six-goal total in the two matches is also a record.
Brazilian boss Sergio Ricardo de Paiva Farias' side also pushed its undefeated streak to four wins and two draws in defeating the Busan side headed by former national team player Hwang Sung-hong. The Steelers have not lost at home this season, going 9-8-0.
"The players did a good job but there is still a long way to go this season," said Farias, who signed an extension before the championship matches.
"Still, it is good to lift the first trophy of the year."
Hwang, meanwhile, hopes Busan will rebound from the defeat.
"I hope that we can learn from this loss and bounce back," said Hwang, whose side is sitting 14th in the league standings.
"Today's defeat could be a turning point for our players."
In front of 20,736 fans, the Steelers jumped out to an early lead as No Byung-jun shot was deflected by a defender and midfielder Hwang headed in the rebound to put his side ahead in the sixth minute.
Eight minutes later, Denilson fired a shot from just outside the 18 into the net to make it 2-0.
At 33 minutes, veteran Kim Ki-dong extended the lead with a header.
Busan trimmed the deficit with a Yang Dong-hyen header one minute into the second half, which was offset by Hwang's long-range blast in the 56th. Finally, midfielder Kim Tae-su closed out the goal spree 12 minutes from full time.
The Steelers still have a shot at winning two more trophies this season. They are currently third in the K-League with 38 points on nine wins, 10 draws and just two losses, five points back of FC Seoul.
They are also into the quarterfinals of the Asia Champions League and will face FC Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan in a two-leg series which begins next Wednesday.