Seoul snatch K League title from Jeonbuk

FC Seoul striker Park Chu-young, second from right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in the 2016 K League Classic title match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Sunday. FC Seoul won the game 1-0 and became the winner of the top Korean professional football league. It is their first K League title since 2012. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

The K League has been accused in the past of lacking drama but it had plenty Sunday as FC Seoul snatched the title from Jeonbuk Motors on the final day of the season and it was all thanks to Park Chu-young.

The two title rivals started the day level on points ― but with Jeonbuk having scored more goals in the season, a tie would have tipped to their favor. There were other advantages too. The Motors were at home and had beaten Seoul in all three of their previous league meetings this season.

Not this time, not when it mattered. In an entertaining game, Seoul won 1-0 to send its army of traveling fans wild with delight.

Park Chu-young grabbed the all-important goal, perhaps the most important of his long career, to stop Jeonbuk managing a three-peat of league titles. As the trophy travels up the expressway back to the capital, the striker ― who still divides opinion in Korea due to his past international career and spell with Arsenal ― will have plenty of time to reflect on the winning goal.

Yun Il-lok picked up the ball just inside the Jeonbuk half and released a perfect through pass that split the defense. There was Park running into the area to send a first-time shot into the far side of the net.

This time, the striker's 'prayer' ceremony was nowhere to be seen. Suffice to say he went crazy as he was mobbed by teammates.

Jeonbuk, leader almost all season, pushed forward desperately but just could not get the one goal it needed. And when the final whistle blew, it was the men in red and black who were celebrating as the Greens sank down to the grass.

The losers will not forget the nine-point deduction received in September when the Motors were 14 points clear with six games remaining. This was after a club scout was found guilty of bribing referees in 2013.

It still left Seoul five points behind and Hwang Sun-hong's men kept going until the very end. Coach Hwang arrived in the summer and has won his first trophy.

It is also revenge for the semifinal of the Asian Champions League last month when Seoul was eliminated by Jeonbuk.

At least Jeonbuk has the final, later this month against Al Ain of the UAE, to look forward to. If that is successful then this season will be the same but if Jeonbuk lose that too, then 2016, a year that was promising so much, will be something of a disaster.