Pohang Steelers come into this match having registered their first league win in three matches. A thumping 4-0 victory over Gangwon FC in midweek took them to the top spot in the Final B standings. All four goals came in the second half courtesy of Lee Seung-mo, Shin Jin-ho, Park Seung-wook and Kang Sang-woo. Prior to that, there were narrow 1-0 defeats against Seongnam FC and Incheon United. A thrilling 3-2 away victory over Gwangju during the regular season just over a month ago had preceded the fixtures.
On the other hand, Gwangju FC let a three-goal lead slip to succumb to a 3-4 loss at the hands of relegation rivals FC Seoul on Wednesday. Prior to that, they were on the cusp of picking up three points but went on to concede a 90th-minute equaliser to Gangwon FC. Such has been Gwangju's difficult run of form that they have picked up only a solitary victory in their last nine matches. As a result of which, Kim Ho-young's boys are rooted at the foot of the table. They are five points adrift of the relegation play-off position and seven behind absolute safety with three games remaining.
Team News
Pohang Steelers
Pohang continue to be without the services of Kang Hyeon-mu and Borys Tachchy. Vice-captain Kang Sang-woo and Shin Jin-ho played in advanced positions against Gangwon with the team reaping rewards because of it. Both of them went on to register their names on the scoresheet. Therefore, Kim Gi-dong could opt to continue using them further forward.
Park Seung-wook also shifted from right-back to defensive midfield. Up front, Lee Ho-jae is once again expected to play a pivotal role off the bench just as he did against the same opposition last month. Clearly, Kim Gi-dong is trying out new formulas ahead of the massive ACL final with this match set to be his final opportunity to reshuffle the pack. Therefore, it wouldn't be a surprise entirely if he opts to use some players out of their natural berth.
Gwangju FC
The major injury concern for Gwangju is Jung Hyeon-woo who is out due to an unknown injury. Striker Johnathan continues to be on the sidelines owing to a muscle injury plus fitness concerns, having not featured for a long time. Apart from the injuries, much of the starting lineup is expected to be the same.
Heo Yool had scored as a substitute in the 2-2 draw versus Gangwon and will surely play some part in this match as well. Kim Ho-young might also look to Doo Hyun-seok and Reis to change the complexion of the contest if needed.
Head-to-Head
Both teams have met each other on 23 previous occasions. Gwangju have an incredibly poor record whenever they have played Pohang. The Griffins have recorded just one victory in 23 attempts, compared to Pohang's 16 with six matches having ended in a draw. That solitary victory for Gwangju came way back in the year 2006 in the Korean League Cup, during their previous guise as Gwangju Sangmu.
The teams have already met thrice this year, with Pohang registering a single goal margin victory each time. In April, Borys Tashchy's penalty enabled the Steelers to pick up all three points. In the second match, it was Song Min-kyu who popped up with an 89th-minute goal to seal victory. Last month at the Gwangju Football Stadium, the hosts had a 2-1 lead but youngster Lee Ho-jae turned the match on its head by coming off the bench to net a late brace and sink Gwangju in the process.
What to Watch
Could Pohang deal the final blow for Gwangju FC?
It has been a troublesome year for Gwangju FC. The 2021 season has been starkly contrasting to what they had achieved last season. A top-half finish in their first season back in the top-flight was a commendable effort. A struggle for consistency coupled with a leaky defence has been their major reason for concern. Gwangju have conceded 51 goals in the league, which is second only to Suwon FC.
Throwing light on the last couple of matches perfectly sums up their season. Just when they thought that they had picked up a valuable victory on their road to survival, they conceded a 90th-minute goal versus Gangwon FC which lent a severe dent to their survival hopes. In midweek, Gwangju FC were seemingly cruising to victory against FC Seoul. However, they let a three-goal lead slip in the second half to lose 3-4. A defeat against Pohang could seemingly seal their fate, with Gwangju needing a miracle now to stay up from here on.
The defensive-minded midfielder spent six months of the 2018 season on loan at Gwangju FC. That season, he had guided his team to the promotion playoff. However, a 1-0 defeat to Daejeon Citizen coupled with Lee breaking three bones in his neck after an awkward fall meant it was a painful end to his time with the Griffins. Fast forward three years later and Lee Seung-mo now finds himself playing in an unfamiliar centre forward role. This is due to the fact that Pohang has a shortage of attacking firepower. However, Kim Gi-dong's gamble has worked wonders for the team.
