FC Seoul signalled their intentions for 2009 in emphatic style as the capital club travelled down to Gwangyang and crushed Chunnam Dragons 6-1 on the opening day of the new K-League season.
Korean international Kim Chi-woo began the goal rush in the 13th minute, and Adilson dos Santos doubled Seoul's lead in the 27th. Jung Jo-guk made it 3-0 just before half-time, and Kim netted his second and Seoul's fourth ten minutes after the break. Ki Sung-yong made it 5-0 two minutes after Kim's strike, and Lee Seung-ryul added a sixth in the 61st minute. Former Feyenoord player Lee Chun-soo grabbed Chunnam's consolation in injury time, his first for his new club after moving from Suwon Samsung Bluewings on loan.
Lee's former club, defending champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings, began their campaign on a losing note at home to Pohang Steelers. Kim Tae-soo put the visitors ahead in the 16th minute, only for Brazilian forward Edu to level from the penalty spot. Stevica Ristic restored Pohang's lead in the 37th before promptly getting himself sent off, but Denilson extended the lead to 3-1 five minutes from time. Jo Yong-tae pulled one back for the champions at the end of the second half but they were unable to rescue a point.
Serbian coach Ilija Petkovic got off to a winning start as Incheon boss thanks to a first-half strike from Yoo Byung-soo against Busan, and league debutants Gangwon FC also kicked off with a win. Yoon Joon-ha was the hero for the league's newest side as he netted in the 28th minute to seal a 1-0 win over Jeju United.
Kim Tae-yong's debut as Seongnam manager ended in a 1-1 draw away to Daegu, and Gyeongnam and Jeonbuk also shared the spoils in Changwon with a similar scoreline. Perennial bottom club Gwangju got their campaign off to a superb start as they crushed Daejeon Citizen 3-0 at home, with Choi Sung-guk netting twice and Kim Myung-joong grabbing the other.
March 7th
Chunnam 1-6 FC Seoul (16,048)
Suwon 2-3 Pohang (23,168)
March 8th
Daegu 1-1 Seongnam (15,429)
Gwangju 3-0 Daejeon (25,762)
Incheon 1-0 Busan (34,275)
Gangwon 1-0 Jeju (21,316)
Gyeongnam 1-1 Jeonbuk (21,947)
