K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.
The highlight of this week’s action is, unsurprisingly, Sunday’s Super Match. Given the league positions of both sides involved, a win could prove vital for either of the two come the end of the season.
The hosts FC Seoul go into proceedings after winning two out of their last five. Last time out, Seoul were unable to make possession count in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Incheon United, giving An Ik-soo something to think about. His men are still level on points with sixth place Suwon FC, though, so things will look a lot more positive should maximum points be picked up in the Super Match.
Suwon Samsung Bluewings, meanwhile, will be happy with their recent returns after picking up nine points from their last five games. They were unlucky not to get something out of their meeting with Gangwon this past Saturday and should take confidence from their somewhat steadier position in the league, slightly further away from the threat of relegation. A win on Sunday puts the Bluewings within three points of their rivals, giving them plenty of extra incentive.
It's FC Seoul who have come out victorious in the previous two Super Matches this season, with Suwon Samsung Bluewings firing blanks on both occasions. An Ik-soo will now look to ensure his side keep their fourth consecutive clean sheet against their competitors and extend their solid recent record in this fixture - Seoul have won seven out of their last ten against the Bluewings.
It’s a big matchday for Pohang Steelers, who are looking to prove that they have what it takes to stay on track for AFC Champions League qualification. They mightn't have been able to hold onto a 2-0 lead against reigning champions Jeonbuk on Monday, meaning they have drawn consecutive games, but Kim Ki-dong's men have lost just twice in their last ten, winning five in the process. With that being said, in-form Incheon are breathing down the Steelers' necks, so it might be a case of nothing less than all three points will do on Saturday. Pohang 38 goals this season so far puts them third in the scoring charts. Top scorer Heo Yong-jun has 10 to his name - a career-best. However, the last time Heo scored against Daegu, Pohang's opponents this weekend, he was with Jeonnam Dragons back in 2018. Daegu won the last meeting when the two sides went head to head in the FA Cup. In league play, the two previous encounters this season ended in draws.
While plenty of headlines have deservedly gone to Yang Hyun-jun for his breakthrough into Gangwon FC’s first eleven this year, it has caused Kim Jin-ho to occasionally be overlooked. The right wing-back, who initially stepped into the team to replace the injured Kang Ji-hoon, has begun to come into his own of late, adding goals to his game while making inroads towards refining his defensive capabilities. Kim has played 18 times, 17 from the start, has scored three goals and assisted another three.
He and Gangwon will travel to Incheon on Friday with revenge on their minds, given the last clash between the two ended in a 4-1 defeat for the provincial club. Nevertheless, Incheon's five-match unbeaten run is seeing them in for a shot at Champions League qualification.
On Friday, sixth place Suwon FC host fifth place Jeju United, aiming to narrow the gap between the two teams. Both sides are in identical form, with two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five, making this a hard fixture to call. However, the Islanders have the advantage in recent meetings, coming out victorious by a 3-1 margin back in May, and keeping this week's hosts to a 0-0 draw in March.
Then, Saturday sees Gimcheon looking to score a vital win against a Jeonbuk outfit that managed just one league triumph in August. With that in mind, the hosts have the second most home losses in the division (7), so might find themselves the perfect adversaries for the reigning champions, who want to get their league campaign back on track.
Finally, Seongnam FC will be seeking another positive result on Sunday, albeit against league leaders Ulsan Hyundai. The Magpies played well in their recent 2-1 win over Suwon FC, and are now just six points away from Gimcheon. Their opponents this week are unbeaten in nine, though, so this should prove to be a task too difficult for Seongnam despite the potential being there for a late-season resurgence.
Fans in countries with K League overseas broadcasting rights can follow the game live on television. Please check local listings for more information.
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Nathan Sartain
K League United Columnist
