Ulsan HD win K League season opener under new coach
Yago Cariello of Ulsan HD FC, left, celebrates after scoring against Gangwon FC during the clubs' K League 1 match at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League
Ulsan HD FC won their 2026 South Korean football season opener under their new head coach Saturday.
Brazilian forward Yago Cariello celebrated his return to Ulsan with a brace as Ulsan defeated Gangwon FC 3-1 at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan. Kim Hyun-seog, former MVP-winning star for Ulsan who took the club's reins in December, earned his first victory as Ulsan's new boss, following two losses at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite tournament earlier this month.
Yago, as he is better known in the K League 1, first played in South Korea for Gangwon FC from 2023 to 2024. He also spent time with Ulsan in parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons before being loaned to Zhejiang FC in China.
He opened the scoring in the 19th minute on Saturday -- also the very first goal by anyone in the new K League 1 season -- and doubled Ulsan's lead during first-half added time.
Lee Hui-gyun put the match out of Gangwon's reach with his 86th-minute goal. Gangwon only managed a late goal by Abdallah Hleihel four minutes into added time.
Ulsan went through two coaching changes during a tumultuous 2025 season, on the heels of three consecutive league titles. They finished in ninth place, barely above the relegation zone, and are hoping for a major turnaround under Kim in 2026.
Song Min-kyu of FC Seoul, second from right, celebrates after scoring against Incheon United during the clubs' K League 1 match at Incheon Football Stadium in the western city of Incheon, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League
This was one of three matches on the first day of the new K League 1 season.
FC Seoul defeated Incheon United 2-1 at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon, just west of the capital city. Song Min-kyu, who left Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to sign with FC Seoul in January, scored his first goal for his new team in the 47th minute, before Cho Young-wook added another for FC Seoul just past the hour mark.
Stefan Mugosa had the lone goal for Incheon United with a penalty during second-half added time.
Incheon United are back in the top flight after spending one season in the second-tier K League 2.
Jeon Min-gwang of Pohang Steelers, right, is grabbed by Lee Kun-hee of Gimcheon Sangmu FC during the clubs' K League 1 match at Gimcheon Stadium in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League
Gimcheon Sangmu FC and Pohang Steelers ended in a 1-1 draw at Gimcheon Stadium in the southeastern town of Gimcheon.
Go Jae-hyeon put Gimcheon ahead just four minutes into the match, and Jakob Tranziska netted the equalizer for Pohang in the 55th minute for his first K League goal.