2009 K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors signalled their intent of a strong defence of their title crown as they defeated Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-1 on the opening day of the new league season.
Visitors Suwon took the lead after just four minutes, Cho Won-hee netting in his first match back in Suwon colours after his loan switch from Wigan Athletic. Jeonbuk were level on 29 minutes when former Suwon forward Enio Oliveria Junior pounced, and the same player gave Jeonbuk the lead in the 69th minute from the spot. Croatian striker Krunoslav Lovrek grabbed his fourth goal in two games for Motors after his midweek AFC Champions League hattrick as his 90th minute effort wrapped up the point for Choi Kang-hee's side.
FC Seoul were the biggest winners of the day as they came back from Daejeon with the full three points following a 5-2 win. Dejan Damjanovic opened the scoring for the visitors, and further goals from Lee Seung-ryul, Adilson Dos Santos and a double on his debut from Ricardo Esteves ensured Nelo Vingada got off to a winning start as manager of the capital side.
Last season's runners-up Seongnam also recorded a fine opening day victory as a double from Mauricio Molina and a Fabricio Eduardo Souza strike gave them a 3-0 win over Gangwon. Another league debutant, Colombian Juan Estiven Velez Upegui, netted the only goal of the match in the 69th minute to give Ulsan a 1-0 win over Gyeongnam, and Do Hwa-sung's 74th minute goal gave Incheon victory over Chunnam by the same scoreline.
A double from ex-Seongnam forward Choi Sung-guk ensured Gwangju got off to winning ways away to Daegu, but they had to come from behind as Song Je-hun had given 2009's bottom club a 13th minute lead. In the opening day's final match, Lee Sang-hyub scored with a free kick in the 54th minute to help Jeju down Busan before becoming the first player to be red-carded in the new season as he picked up a second yellow just after the hour mark.
Saturday February 27th Results
Busan 0-1 Jeju (3,103)
Daegu 1-2 Gwangju (3,532)
Daejeon 2-5 FC Seoul (15,664)
Incheon 1-0 Chunnam (18,313)
Jeonbuk 3-1 Suwon (18,207)
Seongnam 3-0 Gangwon (4,162)
Ulsan 1-0 Gyeongnam (8,376)
