Ulsan Come From Behind to Beat Gangwon 2-1 After Trailing 0-1, Erik's Multi-Goal Gives Them a 4-Point Gap for 2nd
Ulsan HD beat Gangwon FC 2-1. Erik, who came on as a substitute in the 10th minute of the second half, scored two goals within 30 minutes, which widened Ulsan's gap with 3rd-place Daejeon to 4 points, with Ulsan on 54 points.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Erik (29) scored 9 goals in 28 matches last season. This season, he had scored only one goal before the Gangwon match. On November 1, when he came on as a substitute in the 10th minute of the second half, he scored two goals in just 30 minutes. Per Flashscore's tally, he has 3 goals in 15 matches this season, and two of those goals came on a single day. According to Yonhap News, Ulsan HD defeated Gangwon FC 2-1 in their home K League 1 Round 34 match.
Kim Hyun-seok's Substitution Gambit: Two Changes, Erik's Back-to-Back Goals in the 25th and 40th Minutes of the Second Half
Coach Kim Hyun-seok (59)'s gambit was visible even before kickoff. Sports World reported that Ulsan started with Lee Dong-gyeong as a false nine, and top scorer Yago (16 goals, as of 2026.10.30) sat on the bench. Before the match, Kim said, "We had scored a lot and conceded little," and Gangwon coach Jeong Gyeong-ho described Ulsan's lineup as "a lineup we hadn't considered."
The first half did not go Ulsan's way. In the 41st minute of the first half, Mo Jae-hyeon's shot hit the post and goalkeeper Hwang Byeong-geun before going in. It was first credited as a goal for Mo Jae-hyeon, but at halftime it was changed to an own goal by Hwang Byeong-geun. According to Sports Chosun, Kim brought on Yago for Lee Gyu-seong at halftime, and brought on Erik for Lee Hui-gyun in the 10th minute of the second half.
| Time | Event | Score (Ulsan-Gangwon) |
|---|---|---|
| First half, 41 min | Own goal by Hwang Byeong-geun (Mo Jae-hyeon's shot) | 0-1 |
| Halftime | Lee Gyu-seong off, Yago on | 0-1 |
| Second half, 10 min | Lee Hui-gyun off, Erik on | 0-1 |
| Second half, 25 min | Erik left-footed equalizer, assisted by Jo Hyeon-taek | 1-1 |
| Second half, 40 min | Erik right-footed go-ahead goal, assisted by Jo Hyeon-taek | 2-1 |
The equalizer started with an opponent's mistake. According to a Nate Sports report, Lee Dong-gyeong took advantage of a mistake by Shin Min-ha to win the ball, and Erik finished with his left foot, assisted by Jo Hyeon-taek. The go-ahead goal came 15 minutes later with his right foot. Jo Hyeon-taek provided the assist again.
Erik, age 29, scores for the first time in 336 days since his Achilles tendon injury
Erik is a Brazilian striker born January 3, 1997. He moved to Denmark's Vejle in 2017 and experienced a 2nd-division title there. After about 80 matches and 13 goals at Juventude, he joined Ulsan in March 2025. His first season: 28 matches, 9 goals, and Round 15 MVP.
Erik was sidelined long-term with an Achilles tendon injury after the October 26, 2025 match against Daegu. He did not score again until the July 26, 2026 match against Seoul, 336 days later.
Why Jo Hyeon-woo Missed the Match; Hwang Byeong-geun Fills the Goalkeeper Spot of a Player on a 1.46 Billion Won Salary
Jo Hyeon-woo (35) missed the match because of the birth of his third child, according to Sports World. Hwang Byeong-geun took over his position. It was Hwang's first appearance of the season, and Kim said before the match, "Byeong-geun has experience. I believe he will do well." The scoresheet records an own goal, but that was the only goal the team conceded.
According to Korea Professional Football League figures, Jo Hyeon-woo's 2025 season salary was 1.46 billion won, making him third among domestic players.
Ulsan Standings: 54 Points, 4-Point Gap with 3rd-Place Daejeon
At kickoff, the gap between Ulsan and Daejeon was 1 point. According to Newspim, Daejeon drew 0-0 with Jeonbuk the previous day to reach 50 points, while Ulsan had 51. After the match, Ulsan kept 2nd place with a record of 16 wins, 6 draws, and 12 losses, 54 points, keeping them 2nd, 4 points ahead of Daejeon (as of 16:00 on Nov. 1, 2026).
| Rank | Team | Points | Matches | Point Gap with Ulsan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FC Seoul (title clinched) | 67 | 33 | +13 |
| 2 | Ulsan HD | 54 | 34 | - |
| 3 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 50 | 34 | -4 |
| 4 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 49 | 34 | -5 |
| 5 | Gangwon FC | 48 | 34 | -6 |
| 6 | Incheon United | 46 | 33 | -8 |
Ulsan still have away matches at Seoul on Nov. 8 and at Incheon on the 21st, a home match against Jeonbuk on the 29th, and an away match at Daejeon on Dec. 6. The last two are head-to-head matches against rivals. If Ulsan lose one round while Daejeon win, the gap would still be 1 point. Topstar News analyzed that the 2nd-place team in the league has a considerably high chance of earning a direct ACLE berth, but variables include the Korea Cup champion.
These standings are provisional. The Seoul-Incheon match, which kicked off at 16:30, is not reflected, and Incheon would reach 49 points with a win. This table was compared against Wikipedia's standings and Yonhap News and Newspim reports, so it has not been checked against the official K League standings, and the ACLE allocation has also not been confirmed in an official league document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who scored Ulsan's goals against Gangwon?
Erik scored in the 25th and 40th minutes of the second half, and Jo Hyeon-taek assisted both goals. Gangwon's first-half goal in the 41st minute was corrected from a Mo Jae-hyeon goal to a Hwang Byeong-geun own goal.
Q. Why was Jo Hyeon-woo absent?
He missed the match because of the birth of his third child. Hwang Byeong-geun took his place in goal in his first appearance of the season.
Q. How many points does Ulsan HD have, and what is the gap with 3rd place?
Ulsan are 2nd with 16 wins, 6 draws, 12 losses, and 54 points. They are 4 points ahead of 3rd-place Daejeon (50 points) (as of 16:00 on Nov. 1, 2026, not reflecting the Seoul-Incheon match).
Related Official Sites
- K League Official Records (2026 K League 1 Team Standings) — check the latest standings, including the Seoul-Incheon match
- K League Official Attendance — check official attendance records, including this match
- Ulsan HD FC Official Website — club news and remaining match schedule
Representative image · archive photo · not an on-site photo of the match in this article · Photo=Wikimedia Commons (OttoSilver), CC BY-SA 4.0
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