Asian Champions League holders Pohang Steelers paid the price for resting players in preparation for next week's crucial continental clash at Shandong Luneng as they lost 1-0 to FC Seoul in the K-League.

Pohang made nine changes from the team that defeated the Chinese side 1-0 in midweek and the game was settled by a first-half strike from former Benfica midfielder Ricardo Esteves. Esteves found himself unmarked inside the penalty area after 17 minutes and slotted the ball past keeper Shin Hwa-yong.

The young players are good so there wasn't much to worry about. They will have learned from the match.
Hwang Jin-sung stays philosophical after the match

Hwang Jin-sung came the closest for the visitors early in the second-half when his shot hit the post.

"The match against Shandong next week in the AFC Champions League is an important one," Hwang said. "The young players are good so there wasn't much to worry about. They will have learned from the match."

Jose Ortizaga's goal just after the break saw Ulsan Horang-i go top of the table with a 2-1 win over Incheon United.

The visitors had taken the lead through Lee Jin-ho after 20 minutes but Hyuk Jung drew Incheon level 16 minutes later before Ortizaga's intervention saw Ulsan claim the points, but with eight teams in action on Sunday their stay at the summit could be a short one.

Seongnam Ilhwa may have a perfect record in Group E of the Asian Champions League with three wins from three games but for the second week running, the Yellows dropped points in the K-League due to a late equaliser.

Busan I'Park's Brazilian star Romulo struck three minutes from time to earn the visitors a 1-1 draw after Dzenan Radoncic had put Seongnam ahead just before the break. Seongnam take on Beijing Guoan on Wednesday just a week after defeating the Chinese champions 3-1.