Incheon United gamers stroll off the pitch after a 2-1 loss to Daejeon Hana Citizen FC within the groups’ Okay League 1 match at Incheon Soccer Stadium in Incheon, Nov. 10. Yonhap
Incheon United have been relegated to the second division in Korean soccer for the primary time in membership historical past, after narrowly avoiding the destiny lately.
Incheon misplaced to Daejeon Hana Citizen FC 2-1 of their penultimate match of the Okay League 1 season on Sunday, which ensured Incheon will end in final place and face direct relegation to the Okay League 2 no matter their outcome within the season finale on Nov. 24 towards Daegu FC.
Incheon remained caught at 36 factors and Daegu, regardless of dropping to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-1 on Sunday, are at 40 factors.
Beneath the present promotion-relegation system, the last-place workforce within the 12-club Okay League 1 every season shall be instantly relegated to the second division for the next 12 months. The Eleventh-place workforce should beat the runner-up from the Okay League 2 in a promotion-relegation playoff. The opposite playoff will pit the Tenth-ranked workforce from the Okay League 1 towards the winner of a Okay League 2 playoff involving groups ranked third, fourth and fifth there.
The Okay League applied the promotion-relegation system in 2013 and Incheon have by no means beforehand been relegated.
They dodged that bullet a couple of occasions prior to now, although. In 2019, Incheon, then coached by cancer-stricken Yoo Sang-chul, have been clinging to Tenth place with two matches remaining, solely three factors forward of last-place Jeju United. Again then, groups solely needed to end in Tenth place to keep away from any playoff. Incheon had a win and a attract these two remaining video games to finish the season in Tenth.
In 2020, below new head coach Cho Sung-hwan, Incheon received their remaining two matches to barely keep away from relegation as soon as once more.
They spent the following two campaigns within the higher echelon of the Okay League 1, and even certified for the Asian Soccer Confederation Champions League, the highest membership competitors in Asia, for the primary time in membership historical past in 2023.
This season, nevertheless, Incheon failed to duplicate their magic. Cho resigned in July with the membership sitting in ninth place with 20 factors from 4 wins, eight attracts and eight losses. His prime assistant, Byun Jae-sub, served as caretaker coach for practically a month earlier than Choe Yeong-keun took over because the full-time alternative.
Beneath Choe, Incheon solely recorded three wins, two attracts and 7 losses.
Daejeon Hana Citizen FC gamers have a good time Anton Krivotsyuk’s aim throughout their match towards Incheon United at Incheon Soccer Stadium in Incheon, Nov. 10. Yonhap
On Sunday, Incheon’s destiny appeared sealed earlier than the match was barely quarter-hour outdated, with Daejeon leaping out to a 2-0 lead on targets by Masatoshi Ishida and Anton Krivotsyuk.
Incheon lower the deficit in half late within the first half with Gerso Fernandes changing a cross from Lee Myung-joo. However they could not get any nearer the remainder of the match, with Fernandes’ would-be equalizer disallowed within the 71st minute when it was dominated that the ball had gone over the endline earlier than it was handed to the ahead.
With this win, Daejeon improved to 45 factors for ninth place and prevented falling right into a promotion-relegation playoff.
Jeonbuk, nine-time Okay League champions who’ve battled to remain out of the cellar all season, climbed to Tenth place with their win over Daegu.
Lee Seung-woo had a aim and an help within the win, however Jeonbuk will nonetheless find yourself in one of many two promotion-relegation playoffs, both because the Tenth or Eleventh seed.
Following a global break, Jeonbuk will end their season towards Gwangju FC on Nov. 24. (Yonhap)
