FC Seoul 3 – 1 Pohang Steelers | K League 1 | July 22, 2026

FC Seoul produced a dominant second-half display to see off Pohang Steelers 3-1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium on a humid summer evening. The victory lifted the capital club into the top four of the K League 1 standings, while the Steelers dropped points in their chase for an Asian Champions League spot.

Match Overview

Pohang took an early lead through a well-worked counter-attack in the 12th minute, but Seoul responded with two goals before halftime and added a third after the break to seal a convincing win. The result extended Seoul’s unbeaten home run to five matches and maintained their momentum under head coach Kim Ki-dong.

Key Moments

• 12′ – Pohang strike first: Steelers winger Lee Seung-mo finished a quick break, slotting past Seoul goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo after a pass by Kim Jong-woo.
• 28′ – Seoul equalise: A defensive mix-up allowed Palocevic to nip in and prod home from close range after a corner was not cleared.
• 41′ – Seoul take the lead: Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng curled a free-kick over the wall and into the top corner from 22 yards, sending the home crowd into raptures.
• 67′ – Seoul seal it: Substitute Cho Young-wook timed his run perfectly to meet a cross from left-back Lee Tae-seok and volley past the goalkeeper.

Tactical Story

Seoul shifted to a more aggressive 4-3-3 after falling behind, pressing Pohang high up the pitch and forcing mistakes. The Steelers, who had been compact in the first 20 minutes, struggled to cope with the intensity of Seoul’s midfield runners. Pohang’s usual direct approach was neutralised by the physical presence of Seoul’s centre-backs, who won 14 aerial duels between them.

Standout Players

• Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul): The veteran midfielder orchestrated play and scored a stunning free-kick – his third goal of the season.
• Cho Young-wook (FC Seoul): His energetic second-half cameo produced the third goal and created several other chances.
• Lee Seung-mo (Pohang): The only bright spot for the visitors, consistently threatening with his pace on the counter.

Table Impact

The win moved FC Seoul to 39 points from 21 matches, just two points behind league leaders Ulsan Hyundai. Pohang remain in fifth place on 34 points, now three points adrift of the top three. The result puts pressure on the Steelers to recover quickly in the tight mid-table fight.

Next up for Seoul is a tricky away trip to Jeonbuk, while Pohang host Suwon Samsung Bluewings as they look to return to winning ways.