K League Worldwide Live ▶ http://kleague.com/ko/content/kleague-live

Intro

 

Two of the biggest clubs in the K League face off against each other this Sunday for the Worldwide Live match of Round 24 when FC Seoul host Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. FC Seoul head into Sunday’s clash on the back of three straight league wins, a run that has propelled Lee Eulyong’s side up to sixth in the table. Jeonbuk, on the other hand, still have a firm grasp on top spot but make the trip to the capital having lost three of their last five in all competitions.

 

History

 

Whilst the Super Match may be heralded as the biggest game in Korea, there’s no shortage of history between FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors - especially in recent years. Only four teams have won the K League title in the last 10 years, two of which are FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Hyundai with eight titles between them. Jeonbuk finished runners up to FC Seoul in 2012 and, when Seoul last won the K League title on the final day of the 2016 season, they did so by pipping Jeonbuk to the title in their own stadium having headed into the final day showdown on the same points. Since then, however, the two clubs have been on contrasting trajectories. Seoul finished fifth last season and got off to a turbulent start to this current campaign which ultimately lead to the departure of manager Hwang Sunhong. Compare that to Jeonbuk who went on to win the AFC Champions League after displacing FC Seoul in the semi finals in 2016 and have gone from strength to strength. The Green Warriors regained the K League title last year at a canter, finishing nine points above Jeju United, and look to be on course to a similar feat this season. Consequently, there will perhaps be a hint of jealousy in the air at Sangam on Sunday, both in the stands as well as from the home dressing room.

 

Recent Form

 

FC Seoul are beginning to show signs of life once again having spent the vast majority of the campaign playing catch up. Lee Eulyong’s side are now sitting in the top half of the table after three league wins on the spin, including a dramatic late win over bitter rivals Suwon Bluewings on Wednesday. Former favourite Dejan Damjanović put Suwon Bluewings in front with just four minutes on the clock but, four minutes into the second period, Go Yohan equalised after latching into a superb ball over the top from Shin Jinho on the counter attack. The result was sealed deep into stoppage time when Anderson Lopes cemented his place in FC Seoul folklore by netting his third Super Match goal, adding to his brace from the Sangam clash in May. The former Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker slotted the ball into the corner on the turn, sending the travel fans behind the goal into delirium.

 

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, however, seem to be stalling a touch at present. The Green Warriors make the trip to the capital on the back of three defeats in five in all competitions having lost at home to second-placed Gyeongnam FC in round 21 as well as suffering a humiliating 5-2 reverse at the Steelyard last time out. Defeats to Gyeongnam and Pohang Steelers has seen the gap at the top reduced to 10 points, whilst an away loss to K League 2 side Asan Mugunghwa arrested Jeonbuk’s FA Cup run.

 

Previous Meetings

 

Jeonbuk’s last two trips to Sangam have proven to be rather fruitful; a 4-0 hammering in May was preceded by a 2-1 win in July last year. Sandwiched in between are a 2-1 Jeonbuk victory in Jeonju back in March of this year and a 0-0 stalemate last October. The 4-0 Jeonbuk victory will still leave a bitter taste in the mouths of anyone connected to FC Seoul during which a second half collapse allowed the reigning champions to run riot in Seoul’s backyard. Lee Jaesung got Jeonbuk in front just past the hour mark before a Kwak Taehwi own goal with just eight minutes to go doubled Jeonbuk’s advantage. Lim Sunyoung then made it three just two minutes later after which Lee Donggook completed the rout with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

 

Seoul’s last win over Jeonbuk came just over a year ago thanks to a late, late Park Chuyoung strike in a 2-1 victory at Sangam. Yoon Seungwon’s 36th minute goal had put Seoul’s noses in front before a Kim Shinwook spot kick levelled things up just after the interval. Then, deep into injury time, an instinctive half volley on the edge of the area sealed a dramatic win for FC Seoul.

 

Sunday’s game will be the 53rd meeting between the two sides. Of the 52 previous encounters, Jeonbuk have the edge with 20 victories whilst Seoul have 17.

 

Team News

 

FC Seoul will have Bojan Matić available again after the summer signing was shown a straight red card during the 3-0 win over Jeju United. Whilst Anderson’s last minute heroics in the Super Match may have earned him the plaudits, his celebration with the fans behind the goal also earned him a yellow card - his third of the campaign. The 24 year-old will therefore be suspended for the visit of Jeonbuk and so Matić may come straight back into the starting XI over the seemingly unfancied Evandro. Hwang Kiwook remains a doubt, however - the 21-year-old midfielder has missed Seoul’s last three games with a facial injury. Attacking midfielder Jung Wonjin, the recent acquisition from Pohang Steelers, is yet to make his debut since arriving as part of the deal that saw Lee Seokhyeon go the other way and could be involved.

 

For Jeonbuk, goalkeeper Song Beomkeun, centre back Kim Minjae, and defensive midfielder Jang Yunho are all unavailable having been selected for the South Korea U23 team for the 2018 Asian Games. However, midfielder Son Junho should be back in contention after serving a one-match ban for the away trip to Pohang on Wednesday. The former Steeler picked up his sixth yellow of the campaign in the 3-1 victory over Gangwon.

 

Goalkeeper Hong Jeongnam and central midfielder Lee Seunggi were both in the squad that lost to Pohang on Wednesday and could be in line for a return. Hong had been stepping up his recovery from surgery whilst Lee had been ruled out with a toe injury. Former FC Seoul striker Adriano and winger Han Kyowon could also be reinstalled to the starting lineup having watched on from the bench at the Steelyard. The pair were rested so as not to risk another yellow and the subsequent suspension. Kim Jinsu is Jeonbuk’s only long term absentee, the left back is still recovering from an ACL injury that has kept him out for almost the entirety of the season thus far. Although predominantly a right-sided full back, Choi Chulsoon had been filling in but will be suspended for Sunday’s clash and so Park Wonjae I is expected to deputise at left back.

 

Talking Tactics

 

Caretaker manager Lee Eulyong has preferred to set his team up in a 4-1-2-3 formation. The former Republic of Korea international midfielder also flirted with a back three but with the formation failing to yield results, Lee reverted to a back four. Anderson Lopes had been the preferred choice down the middle but, due to the Brazilian’s suspension, Matić could be chosen to lead the line in his absence. Seoul have proven to be more of a counter-attacking team this term, looking to stretch teams on the break by making the most of the ample pace the side possesses, not to mention the range of passing that the likes of Go Yohan and Shin Jinho possess.

 

Jeonbuk will be expected to line up in Choi Kanghee’s favourted 4-1-4-1 formation. Shin Hyungmin is likely to be the man to anchor the midfield whilst Adriano or Kim Shinwook will lead the attack. Wily manager Choi Kanghee has had the tendency to mirror certain oppositions tactics or formations and so could try to counter attack and use the pace of Lopes and Adriano. The latter’s tendency to play off the shoulder of the last man will be something that could cause his former employers problems come Sunday.

 

One To Watch

 

Carlos Adriano de Souza Cruz, or simply ‘Adriano’, is a player that FC Seoul know all too well. The Brazilian donned the red and black stripes for 18 months after joining on a free transfer from Daejeon Citizen in 2015. In his first season at Sangam, Adriano helped Seoul win the FA Cup, scoring Seoul’s second goal in a 3-1 win against Incheon United in the final. A year later and Adriano was lifting the K League trophy after scoring 31 goals in all competitions, 17 in the league. But, after a short stint in China, the 30 year-old returned and was a surprise addition to an already strong Jeonbuk squad. From 10 starts Adriano has six goals, including what turned out to be the winner between these two sides at Jeonju in March. Whilst Adriano might not have started as many games as perhaps he would have liked, his statistics are as good as any in the Jeonbuk squad. From 41 shots 28 have been on target, a percentage of 68. Compare that to Lee Donggook, who has played a similar role off the bench this year, has seven goals from 61 shots, 33 of which were on target - a percentage of 54%. Whether Adriano starts on Sunday or not he is capable of causing problems for any team in Asia, let alone the K League.