Wednesday 27th October 2021

#GANvDAE: Gangwon FC (KL1) vs Daegu FC (KL1) - 19:00

Despite being embroiled in a relegation battle this term, Gangwon FC are only 90 minutes away from the club's first-ever FA Cup Final. Already, by reaching the semifinals, Kim Byung-so and his men have set a new club record having previously bowed out in the quarterfinals, including in 2019 and 2020. Gangwon take on Daegu FC this Wednesday night and do so on the back of a 4-1 defeat to FC Seoul last Sunday. The loss was Gangwon's first in four matches after something of a mini-revival. On the way to the semis, Gangwon saw off Cheongju FC of K3, Seoul E-Land in K League 2 as well as Suwon Bluewings from K League 1. 

Daegu FC also head into Wednesday's match on the back of a defeat following Sunday's 2-0 loss to Suwon Bluewings. The Sky Blues won the FA Cup in 2018 but since then have fallen short at the Round of 16 stage and so Lee Byung-keun's men have never had a better chance of clinching their second piece of silverware. To make it to the final four, Daegu started with a 2-0 win over Gimhae City of K3 in Round 4 and then picked up a 2-1 win over K League 2 side Gimcheon Sangmu. Wednesday's match will be the first FA Cup meeting between the two sides. However, overall, there have been 43 previous encounters, 20 of which have been won by Daegu and 12 by Gangwon with 11 draws. This term, Gangwon have two wins, Daegu one.

#ULSvJDFC: Ulsan Hyundai (KL1) vs Jeonnam Dragons (KL2) - 19:00

Last year's runners up Ulsan Hyundai will be looking to go one better this year. The Horangi take on K League 2 side Jeonnam Dragons for what will be their fourth semifinal in five seasons. Last season, Ulsan lost in the final to Jeonbuk and came up short in 2018 when Daegu won the competition for the first time. Ulsan's only FA Cup triumph to date came in 2017 after a 2-1 aggregate win over K League 2 side Busan IPark. In terms of recent form, Hong Myung-bo's men welcome the Dragons on the back of two straight losses, first in the AFC Champions League semifinal to East Coast Derby rivals Pohang Steelers on penalties, before a 2-1 reverse away to relegation-threatened Seongnam FC. To make it this far in 2021, Ulsan beat K League 2 outfit Gyeongnam FC 3-0 in Round 4 then K3 side Yangju Citizen in the quarters. 

Jeonnam Dragons, meanwhile, have won the FA Cup on three previous occasions including back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Since the Dragons' most recent triumph om 2007, they have made it to the quarters four times and the semis four times. The South Jeolla side will be looking to bounce back from the 3-1 to K League 2 champions Gimcheon Sangmu last time out. Prior to that, however, the Dragons were on a run of four unbeaten with two wins and two draws. To make it this far in the FA Cup, Jeonnam put 11 past Daegu Cheonsol in what was an FA Cup record for a K League team, before needing penalties against Suwon FC and K3 outfit Busan Transportation Corporation in the following two rounds. However, in the quarters, Jeonnam picked up a 1-0 win over POSCO rivals Pohang Steelers, Samuel Nnamani with the game's only goal in 47 minutes. Wednesday's clash will be just the second FA Cup meeting between the two sides and first since 2018. In 2007 and at the quarter-final stage, Jeonnam advanced after winning on penalties before going on to win the competition. Overall, there have been 69 meetings between Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonnam Dragons with the Horangi winning 31, the Dragons 21 and 17 draws.

[READ: Jeonnam's Samuel looking to use cup experience against Ulsan]

Paul Neat
Managing Editor