K League Listings (10/26)

It’s the final match day before the split or Championship/relegation race/playoff. Some big matches (as always), and a bit of clarity as the Korean FA Cup has it’s finalists.

I imagine Tim (or Roy?) or someone will have the European listings up soon, but I want to get the K League ones up. This weekend is big, and I’m really excited for it.

Match Ups – K League Classic Round 33

Pohang Steelers vs Sangju Sangmu
Jeonbuk Motors vs Suwon Samsung
Seongnam FC vs Ulsan Hyundai
Gyeongnam FC vs Jeju United
FC Seoul vs Busan IPark
Incheon United vs Jeonnam Dragons
*all matches are on Sunday and will kick off at 2PM KST

Pohang vs Sangju
Both teams are in poor form, and both are sliding into areas of the table they’d rather not be in. Pohang are just two points ahead of Jeju, and just three ahead of Seoul for that final AFC Champions League spot. Sangju have dropped down to 11th place, the relegation playoff. Could they possibly meet Gangwon FC again in the playoff match? If they did, it’d be an ironic twist considering they met last year and Sangju easily dispatched the northeast side. This is a match that Pohang should win easily, but nothing has come easy for the champions as of late.

Jae’s prediction: Pohang 1-0 Sangju
TV: SPOTV+
Stream: Naver, Daum, Afreeca

Jeonbuk vs Suwon
A battle at the top. Jeonbuk has a seven point cushion over their nearest title rival, but a Suwon win would see them cut the gap to a more manageable four with the two to meet again after the split (not positive, but I suspect that match would be in Suwon given they’ll have met twice in Jeonju and just once in Suwon at that point). The two played out an entertaining 3-2 match in the last meeting in Jeonju, and something similar will likely happen Sunday. Jeonbuk will know a win would almost wrap up the title as they would have a 10 point lead with five games to go. Suwon will know a win keeps them in it with a good chance to claim their fifth K League title and first in six years. This match should also feature the league’s top two goal scorers in Jeonbuk’s Lee Dong-gook and Suwon’s Santos.

Jae’s prediction: Jeonbuk 2-2 Suwon
TV: MBC Sports+, JTV (Jeonju)
Stream: Naver, Daum, Afreeca

Seongnam vs Ulsan
Here we have a match between two clubs that are in a spot they don’t want to lose. Seongnam are just above the relegation spots, and Ulsan are just in the top half ahead of Jeonnam. Both will know that dropping points here could see them move down. For Ulsan, it’s must win as any mistake could see them drop into the bottom, while Seongnam will know that they’ll have a little room to rectify any “issues”. That being said, Ulsan’s form has been dreadful, and they didn’t exactly dominate Sangju in their win last weekend. Seongnam is coming off a big KFA Cup semifinal win over Jeonbuk, which could be beneficial (boost for morale and confidence) or detrimental (high point that leads to lost focus, less energy).

Jae’s prediction: Seongnam 0-1 Ulsan
TV: OBS
Stream: Naver, Afreeca

Gyeongnam vs Jeju
Gyeongnam is in desperate need of a win. The team is rooted to the bottom and coming off a horrible 4-0 loss to Busan last weekend. Fortunately for them, Sangju is just a point better than them, and should Pohang be able to give Sangju a shallacking, it’s mathematically possible that Gyeongnam could move up to 11th this weekend with a draw. In fact, in the two previous meetings this season, Gyeongnam and Jeju have drawn both times, a result that would probably suit the struggling side from the south. Jeju will hope though, that they can improve their average away record and keep the pressure on Pohang for that final AFC Champions League spot. Jeju will know that Jeonbuk’s elimination from the KFA Cup means they must get third place if they want to qualify for Asia next season.

Jae’s prediction: Gyeongnam 1-1 Jeju
TV: Jeju MBC, MBC Gyeongnam
Stream: Naver, Daum, Afreeca

Seoul vs Busan
Busan put in quite possibly their best performance of the season last weekend. Not only flattening Gyeongnam on the scoreboard, but also dominating the possession and keeping Gyeongnam at bay for much of the match. Can Busan do a seasonal away double over the capital club? On paper it seems unlikely, Busan has been atrocious away from the Asiad, but one of their two wins did come against Seoul earlier in the season. Busan may also benefit from Seoul’s midweek semifinal win. Knowing they can qualify for Asia next year by beating Seongnam in the final, Seoul may ease off a bit in the league. However, I’d expect even a changed Seoul side to be able to see off Busan’s challenge at home.


Jae’s prediction: Seoul 2-0 Busan
TV: TBS
Stream: Naver, Daum, Afreeca

Incheon vs Jeonnam
A game of must win for one team vs would like to win for the other. Incheon doesn’t have much to play for at the moment. They have no chance of making the top half, and are seven points clear of the relegation places. While not mathematically safe, based on recent form you’d imagine Incheon isn’t too worried about being relegated (at least on the pitch). Jeonnam on the other hand will know they must win in order to have some hope of getting back into the top half. After a fantastic start, Jeonnam have faded badly in the latter stages of the season, and really have only themselves to blame. Even though they don’t have much to play for, I don’t expect Incheon to take it easy and Jeonnam will have to fight to get a shot at finishing in the top half.

Jae’s prediction: Incheon 1-1 Jeonnam
TV: CJ Hellovision Incheon
Stream: Naver, Afreeca

Match Ups – K League Challenge Round 33

Gwangju FC vs Daejeon Citizen
Ansan KP vs Gangwon FC
FC Anyang vs Bucheon 1995
Goyang Hi FC vs Daegu FC
Suwon City FC vs Chungju Hummel

  • Win, and the K League Challenge title + automaticpromotion will belong to Daejeon regardless of Ansan’s result.
  • Anyang will look to put some psychological pressure on Ansan ahead of their final meet up midweek next week. Anyang has (on paper) an easier match up this week and could move ahead of Ansan.
  • Losses (plus other results going against them) could see Goyang and Suwon City effectively eliminated from playoff contention.

Oh yeah, the cup

Last night, the semifinals for the KFA Cup were held. Jeonbuk and Seongnam met in Jeonju, while Seoul took on Sangju in Sangju. Seoul emerged 1-0 winners in their match, and Seongnam took down Jeonbuk 5-4 on penalties after the match ended 0-0 after extra time. That means that Seongnam and Seoul will meet in the final to decide the winner and who will get the cup spot for next year’s AFC Champions League. The final will be held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on November 23rd.

About Jae Chee 339 Articles
A football fan who got bit by the writing bug.

2 Comments

  1. Hmm, I might try to watch Incheon vs Jeonnam since J-league games are on much later. Kim Yong-Hwan was a RB/player I rated highly from previous U-20 WC & he seems to be playing often lately for Incheon (at least according to soccerway). Any thoughts on his development/progress since he turned pro this year?

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