Relentless Incheon escape the drop

FC Seoul defender Kim Nam-chun / Captured from FC Seoul webpage

By John Duerden

Incheon United pulled off one of the greatest escapes in K-League history on Saturday, winning 1-0 at FC Seoul on the final day of the season to survive in the top tier of Korean soccer for another year. It was the first time Incheon had not been bottom of the standings all season and it came at the right time.

Costa Rican midfielder Elias Aguilar scored the only goal of the game after 33 minutes. It was a spirited affair with both teams having a man sent off but Incheon will not care about that.

It means that Busan I'Park, who lost to Seongnam FC, slip down to K-League 2, but most of the headlines will be focused on Incheon's exploits.

Incheon spent the whole campaign in the basement spot and at the halfway point it looked as if the port city club was cut adrift as there were no wins in the first 15 games. There was surely no chance of recovery but then the blues and blacks started winning. It was August 16 and a fine 1-0 victory at Daegu FC and then six days later there was another victory, this time against Suwon Bluewings.

After collecting just five points from the first 15 games, Incheon then managed to take 19 points from the next 11. It meant that the final game of the season gave it a great chance to survive.

Incheon may have been bottom but knew that a win over FC Seoul would mean top tier soccer in 2021. This was because the two teams above played each other. Busan I'Park and Seongnam FC were only a point above Incheon and whatever happened in that game, one team was not going to get the points to stay above Incheon if Incheon won. And it was Busan that lost.

There were some emotional scenes when Incheon met Seoul. The capital club was still reeling from the death of defender Kim Nam-chun in an apparent suicide Friday and there was a minute's silence held in the fourth minute for the popular player who had worn the number four shirt.

The 31 year-old had spent all of his career with Seoul apart from his spell with army team Sangju Sangmu as he completed his military service. In total, he played 114 times in the K-League.

The tragic event must have affected the Seoul players but Incheon worked hard from the start. In the end, it took the win and will be playing Seoul again next season.