In one of the most competitive finishes to a National League stage for years, Gimhae clinched their first stage triumph in only their second season in existence as they saw off the challenge of title rivals Suwon City with an impressive 4-2 away victory.
Gimhae fell behind in the 25th minute to a Kim Han-won strike, and they trailed until the 65th minute when ex-Incheon Korail forward Lee Jin-hee leveled the scores. Lee then grabbed his second of the game five minutes later, and Min Kyung-il made it 3-1 with ten minutes remaining. A second from Kim in the 85th minute brought Suwon back into things, but almost immediately after the restart Chu Woon-ki went up the other end and restored Gimhae's two goal advantage, allowing his side to play out a praiseworthy 4-2 away win and clinch the spot in the championship playoffs.
Busan Transportation Corporation edged out Incheon Korail for second place on goal difference, as their 3-1 home win over Nowon Hummel moved them into second whilst Korail could only draw at home to Cheonan. Gangneung's hopes of finishing the stage in second place were ended as they went down by a single goal away to Ansan Hallelujah. Defending champions Ulsan Mipo Dockyard rounded off a disappointing campaign with a 4-2 victory over former league powerhouse Goyang Kookmin Bank, whilst there were also last-day victories for Changwon and Yesan.
The second stage of the league season will kick off on August 22nd, with the winner of that stage joining Gimhae and the two sides with the best combined records in the championship playoffs.
Saturday July 11th Results
Suwon City 2-4 Gimhae FC
Busan Transportation Corporation 3-1 Nowon Hummel
Ansan Hallelujah 1-0 Gangneung City
Changwon City 3-2 Daejeon Hydro & Nuclear Power
Incheon Korail 1-1 Cheonan City
Goyang Kookmin Bank 2-4 Ulsan Mipo Dockyard
Hongcheon Idu 1-2 Yesan FC
Final First Stage Table
| 2009 National League | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Gimhae FC | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 26 |
| 2 | Busan Transport | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 23 |
| 3 | Incheon Korail | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 23 |
| 4 | Gangneung City | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 22 |
| 5 | Changwon City | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 22 |
| 6 | Ansan Hallelujah | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 22 |
| 7 | Suwon City | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 21 |
| 8 | Cheonan City | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 17 | -3 | 17 |
| 9 | Goyang Kookmin Bank | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 2 | 16 |
| 10 | Ulsan Mipo Dockyard | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 15 |
| 11 | Daejeon HNP | 13 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 23 | -2 | 14 |
| 12 | Yesan FC | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 13 |
| 13 | Nowon Hummel | 13 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 21 | -9 | 10 |
| 14 | Hongcheon Idu | 13 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 36 | -25 | 5 |
