WK League News

The first ever W Korea Cup kicked off in Icheon this morning as Ulsan College beat Dankook University 2-1 at Gongseol Football Field. Daeduk University and Uiduk University go head to head this afternoon before this evening’s hotly anticipated clash between WK League sides Suwon FC and Gyeongju KHNP. The rest of the Round 1 matches will take place tomorrow.

Established in 1994, Ulsan College WFC are no strangers to making history, as the oldest team competing in the newly established WU League. Today, they became the first side to score, and the first to win, in a W Korea Cup.

Even as Ulsan dialled up the pressure throughout the first half, it looked as if Cheonan-based Dankook University might manage to hold them to 0-0 going into the break, but a spilt save gave Ulsan’s Lim Ari an opportunity, which she took to put her side ahead, not to mention become the first goalscorer in W Korea Cup history. Minutes later, it was 2-0, as Kim Hyowon’s cross found Park Jiyu, who tapped it in to double Ulsan’s lead with the final kick of the half.

Dankook keeper and captain Kim Seoyeon was kept busy in the second half too, and she made some brilliant saves despite the relentless pressure. With ample time remaining to turn things around, Dankook’s Jung Eunseo scored in the 68th minute, perfectly placing a curling shot from the edge of the box just out of reach of Ulsan keeper Kim Kyurin.

With Ulsan unable to capitalise on any of several opportunities to increase their lead, tensions were high heading into second half stoppage time as Dankook were awarded a free kick in Ulsan’s half. The set piece itself didn’t come to anything but soon Dankook were on the attack again and won a corner kick with just seconds left to play, which Ulsan defended successfully to claim the win and progress to Round 2.

This afternoon it’s the turn of Daeduk University and Uiduk University, with their Round 1 fixture kicking off at 15:00, also at Gongseol Football Field, before the hotly anticipated evening clash between WK League sides Suwon FC and Gyeongju KHNP at Icheon Stadium.

Daeduk U vs. Uiduk U will be streamed live by the KFA via YouTube. Suwon vs. Gyeongju, the official opening match of the tournament, will be available to watch via Maxports and Coupang Play. Kickoff is at 19:00.