Last gasp Jeju earn deserved point at Pohang

Pohang Steelers 2-2 Jeju United

Highlights video: www.jeju-utd.com (Internet Explorer only)

A 91st minute equaliser from a spirited Jeju United side earned an unlikely point for the islanders on Saturday afternoon. Despite an ever increasing list of absences in defence, Jeju attacked throughout the game and well deserved their lucky break in injury time.

With only one K-League win so far this season, Pohang were desperate for the three points and attacked Jeju from the onset. Brazilian Denilson was a clear threat the entire game and should have opened his account in the first 10 minutes when he fired over from 12 yards.

The striker made up for his mistake though on 23 minutes when he comfortably headed home a Kim Gi-Dong freekick. The goal came at a bad moment for Jeju who had appeared to have weathered the storm and had begun creating their own chances.

The rest of the half continued in a similar vein with Pohang creating the better opportunities but Jeju looking threatening on the counter attack.

Jeju took a much more attacking stance in the second half and this was rewarded just seven minutes in when an Oveira cross was accidentally slotted home by Pohang defender Kim Jung-Kyum. Whilst the defender will have been embarrassed by the own goal, in reality he had no choice but to make an attempt at blocking the ball as Kim Young-Sin was completely unmarked in the Pohang penalty area.

Both sides were looking threatening but it was Denilson who spurned another excellent opportunity. In an almost carbon copy of his first half miss, the striker shot over from 14 yards with just the keeper to beat.

Jeju also created chances with Oveira and Gu Ja-Cheol doing well on the flanks. Shim Young Sung and Ricardo both had attempts saved by Shin Hwa-Yong in the Pohang goal.

Just as it appeared Jeju were gaining the upper hand they were hit with a sucker punch on 67 minutes when Denilson took advantage of chaos in the United penalty area to calmly slide home a Kim Gi-Dong pass. It was his second goal in a game in which he could have already scored four.

Coach Arthur Bernardes urged his side to attack and Jeju's effort was finally rewarded in the 91st minute. Substitute Bang Seung-Hwan superbly headed Ku Kyung-Hyen's set piece in to the bottom corner of the net, giving the Pohang keeper no chance. The Jeju players celebrated a well deserved equaliser.

The game wasn't over though and Jeju could have turned an unlikely draw in to a victory on 93 minutes when Oveira appeared to be fouled in the penalty area. Despite protests referee Lee Sang-Yong refused to give a spot kick and the match ended 2-2.

There were a lot of positives in the game for Jeju - the midfield and attack worked well together and were clearly boosted by the return of Ricardo. Oveira, Shim Young-Sung and Gu Ja-Cheol all seem to have formed a good partnership and hopefully this will continue in future games. Once the injury problems in defence have eased Jeju will be a difficult side to beat and may well have a chance of pinching a position in this season's play-offs.

Jeju will be aware though that they have now gone six K-League matches without a win and simply must take the three points on Sunday when they welcome Daejeon Citizen to Seogwipo. Thanks to the unpredictable nature of this year's K-League a win on Sunday would likely move Jeju to just one point off the top six.