Ulsan, 1-0 to Pohang Started 3rd straight loss by holding the opening game

In the 6th minute of the second half, Ataru scored the winning goal, the largest crowd ever for Ulsan's opening game, and Jeonbuk drew 1-1 with Daejeon at home.

When the final whistle sounded, the fans who visited Munsu Stadium in Ulsan shouted, “Goodbye, goodbye.” This is a cheering song that home fans sing to the opposing team when Ulsan wins at home.

‘Defending champion’ Ulsan defeated Pohang 1-0 in the opening game of the K-League 1 home on the 1st and took a light first step toward winning their third consecutive league title. In the 6th minute of the second half, Japanese midfielder Ataru struck the ball with his right foot from the left edge of the penalty area, bounced once, and then entered the right side of the goal to win the game. This is the first goal in K League 1 this season.

Although this day's game was the official opening game of K League 1, it attracted the attention of fans with various topics. The two teams are traditional rivals known as the 'East Coast Derby', and the match between last year's K-League 1 2nd consecutive winner (Ulsan) and last year's Korea Football Association (FA) Cup champion (Pohang) also attracted attention.

This year, in particular, coach Kim Ki-dong, who was in charge of Pohang until last year, moved to FC Seoul and coach Tae-ha Park came in his place, creating a new topic of 'best friend match' with Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo. Although Coach Park is one year older, he was a classmate in 1987 and built a close relationship with Coach Hong while shining on the K-League stage in Pohang at the same time. Coach Park played in the Pohang uniform from 1991 to 2001, and Coach Hong played in the Pohang uniform from 1992 to 2002, excluding his professional career in Japan (1997 to 2001), and they were both inducted into the Pohang Hall of Fame.

The winner of the first match was Coach Hong. Coach Hong said, “There was a lot of psychological pressure on the players due to the opening match being an East Coast derby. “It is difficult to say that it is perfect in terms of content, but I am happy that we won,” he said. Coach Park said, “I congratulate Ulsan on their victory,” but expressed regret, saying, “We lost because of a ridiculous goal loss.” In the post-game interview, Ataru said, “I tried to cross to Joo Min-gyu, who was cutting to the right,” and Coach Park also knew that Pohang goalkeeper Hwang In-jae conceded a goal while trying to block Joo Min-gyu. Pohang's Australian center back Aspro was sent off in the 43rd minute of the second half while attempting a back tackle to block Ulsan's Eom Won-sang from a counterattack. It was recorded as the ‘first dismissal’ in K-League 1 in the 2024 season.

On this day, 28,683 fans visited the stadium. This is the largest audience ever for Ulsan's opening home game since 2018, when paid attendance statistics began.

Jeonbuk drew 1-1 with Daejeon at home in Jeonju. Jeonbuk gave up the first goal to Daejeon striker Gutek 10 minutes into the game, but defender Ahn Hyeon-beom, who was substituted in the 34th minute of the second half, scored the equalizer six minutes later to avoid defeat. 토토사이트