Daegu FC, unbeaten in four with two wins and two draws, host an FC Seoul side this Sunday that's lost just once in its last five matches. The Sky Blues sit sixth in the table but just one point behind Daejeon meaning a win, coupled with anything less than a victory for the Purples, would move Choi Won-kwon's side up a place. Seoul, though, sit second in the table and are focused on trying to narrow the 11-point gap with Ulsan.
Seoul are third for total shots with 185 but slip to sixth for accuracy with 38.9% of all attempts finding the target. The capital club, though, have been unlucky with eight shots hitting the woodwork - the most in the division - which is perhaps because of the team's willingness to shoot from outside the box. Only Gwangju have had more attempts on goal from outside the 18-yard box. As for Daegu, only Suwon FC have had more headed shots this season with Edgar leading the charge in that regard with 20 total headed shots and five headed goals.
When the two teams met earlier in the campaign FC Seoul rain out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Hwang Ui-jo, Na Sang-ho, and Aleksandar Paločević. Last season, the team's met five times - four in the league and once in the FA Cup - with Seoul winning three and Daegu winning two. Sunday's meeting will be the 50th between the two sides overall with Seoul winning 20, Daegu 14, and 15 draws.
Team of the Round
Pohang Steelers (vs. Gwangju FC, Sat. 3rd June - 19:30)
Pohang Steelers are one of three teams that sit on 27 points and hoping to muscle their way into some sort of title race. After a 1-0 win over Jeonbuk last time out, the Steelers are on a run of four unbeaten. The team's good form this season has been helped by the fact that Pohang are one of the more trigger-happy teams in K League. The Steelers sit second for total shots with 187, just two fewer than Ulsan, but an accuracy of 37.4% - seventh in the division - will be something that manager Kim Gi-dong will want to rectify.
Only Suwon FC and Daegu FC have attempted more headed shots than Pohang, 79 shots from outside the penalty area puts them fourth in the division and a total of 180 shots from open play is only bettered by Ulsan. Leading the team's scoring charts is attacking midfield prodigy Goh Young-jun who has six to his name this term; four of which have been the first goal in games. With winners against Daejeon, Jeonbuk, and a brace in a 2-2 draw against Ulsan among others, Goh's goals have been the difference in seven extra points. This weekend, Pohang take on Gwangju FC, a side that won last time out to end a run of seven league matches without victory.
Player of the Round
Joo Min-kyu, Ulsan Hyundai (vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Sat. 3rd June - 16:30)
A Joo Min-kyu brace last Sunday helped Ulsan Hyundai come back from 3-1 down to Daejeon and earn a draw. The 33-year-old first struck in the 78th minute, nodding in a Ludwigson cross from the left from inside the six-yard box, before finding the top corner two minutes from time. The goals and indeed the point means Ulsan's unbeaten home record remains intact and extends the Horangi's unbeaten run to nine in all competitions. As for Joo, the former Jeju United striker is now on eight for the season which makes him the league's joint-top scorer. Joo's xG is 5.57 and sits ninth in the division for shots dispatched with 31 and eighth for headed shots with seven.
Up next for Ulsan and Joo is Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors away, a match between last season's top two. Last season, in the tangerine of Jeju United, the experienced striker scored four in three appearances against Jeonbuk including a brace in a 2-0 win in Jeonju last May.
Elsewhere in K League 1 Round 16
On Saturday evening at Big Bird. Suwon Samsung Bluewings host cross-town rivals Suwon FC for the second Suwon Derby of the season. Suwon FC won the first meeting of 2023 thanks to goals from Lee Gwang-hyeok and Murilo but the Bluewings won three of the four encounters in 2022. The Suwon Derby usually produces goals and over the previous 13 meetings, there have been, on average, 3.2 goals per match. Suwon FC have scored the most, though, with 24 to 18.
An in-form Jeju United this Saturday entertain a Gangwon FC side that is without a win in five matches and is four points adrift of safety. Nam Ki-il's Jeju began the season without a win form their first five matches but have since gone on to win 10 of their last 12 matches in all competitions with just one loss. Another this Saturday against Gangwon would keep the islanders in the hunt for an AFC Champions League spot. The Bears, though, will be determined not to let the gap with safety widen any further.
Meanwhile, on Sunday Daejeon Hana Citizen take on Incheon United looking for a first win in four matches. Incheon, too, have dropped out of form having been unable to win since the end of April five matches ago. The first meeting of 2023, the first between the clubs in the league since 2015, ended in a 3-3 draw following a pulsating affair.
K League 1 Table
K League 1 Round 16 Fixtures
Saturday 3rd June
#JEOvULS: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (7th) vs Ulsan Hyundai (1st) - 16:30
#SuwonDerby: Suwon FC (9th) vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings (12th) - 18:00
#JEJvGAN: Jeju United (3rd) vs Gangwon (11th) - 19:00
#GWAvPOH: Gwangju FC (8th) vs Pohang Steelers (4th) - 19:30
Sunday 4th June
#DHFCvINC: Daejeon Hana Citizen (5th) vs Incheon United (10th) - 16:30
#DAEvSEO: Daegu FC (6th) vs FC Seoul (2nd) - 19:00
Where to Watch
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Ulsan Hyundai and Daegu FC vs FC Seoul have been chosen for English commentary by K Legue's overseas broadcasting partners.
All matches are available LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on
TV.KLeague.com.
