Incidentally, Ulsan Hyundai also lost to Daegu FC in their previous league match. As was the case in the Pohang match, second-half strikes from Cesinha and Edgar gave the Sky Blues all three points. However, Ulsan have managed to win three of their last five league matches. The only other exception was the goalless stalemate against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Sandwiched in between them was a penalty-shootout triumph over J.League champions Kawasaki Frontale in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League. The Horangi are currently top of the table, with Jeonbuk breathing down their neck in second place.
Team News
Pohang Steelers
The home team continue to have a number of injury concerns. Top-scorer Lim Sang-hyub remains a doubt after a hamstring issue had forced him to leave the pitch against Daegu FC. Both he and Alex Grant were unused substitutes against Cerezo. The Australian defender is expected to return to action in this match.
Borys Tashchy continues to remain absent owing to an unknown injury. He was last seen in action over a month ago, in the home victory over Suwon FC. Lee Seung-mo, boosted by his priceless continental goal, will once again lead the attack. Mario Kvesic could keep his place while Kang Sang-woo is expected to drop back to his customary left-back slot. Go Young-joon or Kwon Gi-pyo will start on the left wing in case that reshuffle happens.
Ulsan Hyundai
Ulsan's major injury concern is veteran Lee Chung-yong who is nursing an ankle injury. Hong Myung-bo will be expected to revert to his usual 4-1-4-1 setup. The manager had used a 4-3-3 system against Daegu, but it failed to pay any dividends. There could be wholesales changes in the Horangi midfield.
Won Du-jae is likely to be the lone defensive midfielder. Lee Dong-gyeong could return to the heart of midfield, instead of the wide position in which he was deployed last time out. On the other hand, top-scorer Lee Dong-jun could get back his starting berth. It also wouldn't be a surprise entirely if Yun Il-lok is seen patrolling the wings on the other side. Overall, Hong Myung-bo has most of his key players at disposal and it's up to him to select the right options.
Head-to-Head
The East Coast derby is one of the most mouth-watering fixtures in the Korean football calendar. This will be the 152nd installment of the derby, with Pohang having recorded 58 wins to Ulsan's 51. Over the years, there has been 42 draws between the two teams.
One of them was the first derby of the season in the corresponding match in March. Kim Min-jun had given Ulsan the lead in the first half, before Song Min-kyu netted the equalizer in the second half. However, at the Munsu Football Stadium, it was the home team that came out on top courtesy of a narrow 1-0 victory. Yoon Bit-garam's inch-perfect free-kick gave Ulsan the lead in the 84th minute. Shin Jin-ho then came agonizingly close to levelling matters with his own free-kick effort in the dying embers of the game. However, the midfielder's curler came back crashing off the woodwork in his first return to his former home.
What to Watch
The Battle of the Shot Stoppers
Derbies can often turn out to be cagey affairs. More often than not, it comes down to one decisive moment in the entirety of 90 minutes. That's where the goalkeepers could play such a pivotal role. This is more so the case when two of the best shot-stoppers in the league will be on display in the East Coast derby.
Kang Hyeon-mu
Not many expected Pohang Steelers to keep a clean sheet away from home against Cerezo Osaka. Though the credit must go to collective defensive discipline at the back, Kang Hyeon-mu did bail out his team on the odd occasion. The 26-year-old asserts authority at the back, and is a hugely important figure in Kim Gi-dong's plans.
Kang is equally good with his hands and feet, when it comes to keeping the opposition out. Having recorded eight clean sheets in the league this season, he is right up there amongst the best keepers. With able help from his backline, Kang Hyeon-mu will once again hope for an assured display when Ulsan come to town this Tuesday.
Jo Hyeon-woo
At the opposite end of the pitch will be the imposing figure of Jo Hyeon-woo. The 29-year-old has been pivotal to Ulsan's success so far this season. On a day when the forwards misfired against Kawasaki Frontale in the ACL, it is Jo Hyeon-woo who shone the brightest. He kept his team alive in the contest time after time, producing a number of crucial saves.
The match eventually went to a penalty-shootout, in which Kawasaki failed to convert three of their spot-kicks thanks to the brilliance of Jo Hyeon-woo. He single-handedly ensured that the Horangi's continental title defence stayed on track. Jo has kept a league-high 11 clean sheets this term. He will once again take centre-stage as Ulsan aim to keep their league title hopes on track this time.
Where to Watch
The East Coast Derby kicks off at 19:00 KST on Tuesday 21st September 2021. Fans in countries with K League overseas broadcasting rights can follow the game live on television. More information can be found
here.
Alternatively, the match is also available for FREE on
tv.kleague.com.
