The 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign reaches Round 7 this weekend. Second clash with third when Pohang welcome FC Seoul to the Steelyard this Saturday, Ulsan are away to Daejeon seeking to extend their club record of six wins from six to start the campaign, while Suwon FC's Lars Veldwijk, now off the mark for the campaign, has his sights set on more goals.
Match of the Round
Pohang Steelers (2nd) vs FC Seoul (3rd), Sat. 15th April - 16:30
Second host third in K League 1 this Saturday night when Pohang Steelers take on FC Seoul. Both have won four matches this term but the Steelers sit above their capital counterparts in the table having managed to stay unbeaten. Seoul have scored more goals than Pouang, though, with 12. It's an early season clash between two of K League's heavyweights and two teams that aim to muscle their way into a title race.
Last time out, Pohang overcame Gwangju FC at home with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Goh Young-jun and Baek Sung-dong. FC Seoul, meanwhile, overcame Daegu FC 3-0 with goals from Hwang Ui-jo, his first for the club, Na Sang-ho, and Aleksandar Paločević. Seoul have a good record against Pohang of late, too, with two wins and a draw in 2022 and two wins, a draw, and just one loss the year prior. Seoul's last loss to the Steelers was almost exactly two years ago.
In terms of who to watch, Hwang Ui-jo will be keen to add to his one goal scored this term. The Korean international sits joint third in K League 1 for total shots with 15 and joint top for shots on target with eight. For the Steelers, Zeca has managed to record three assists already this term and coupled with his winning goal against Jeonbuk, has four goal contributions from the five games Pohang have scored in.
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Team of the Round
Ulsan Hyundai (vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen, Sun. 16th April - 16:30)
The reigning, defending K League 1 champions Ulsan Hyundai are on a run of six straight wins. Never before have the Horangi begun a season in such a rich vein of form. Ulsan's previous best start to a campaign was in 1996 when they picked up five wins and a draw from their first six matches. This term Ulsan are also one of the more free-scoring teams having scored 13, the second-most in the division. This is despite only sitting seventh for total shots but what's been key for Hong Myung-bo's men is the team's shooting accuracy as they are joint first in this regard. Most of Ulsan's shots come from inside the box and only Incheon have dispatched more, whereas only Gangwon have attempted fewer shots from outside the area. This weekend, Ulsan are up against the division's top-scoring team, Daejeon Hana Citizen, who will be looking to bounce back from the 5-3 loss to Suwon FC last time out.
Player of the Round
Lars Veldwijk, Suwon FC (vs. Jeonbuk, Sat. 15th April - 16:30)
Lars Veldwijk is now off the mark for the season following his brace against Daejeon Hana Citizen last time out. Suwon's number nine struck in the 66th minute of the 5-3 win over the Purples last Sunday to make it 3-2 after Daejeon had restored their two-goal cushion. The former Jeonbuk man showed great composure on the edge of the box and sent a powerful shot past a stranded Lee Chang-geun. His second came just four minutes later from the penalty spot to make it 3-3. Now with two goals and two assists, Lars will be feeling confident heading into the visit of his former employers Jeonbuk this Saturday night.
Elsewhere in K League 1 Round 7
Suwon Samsung Bluewings versus Jeju United on Saturday is a contest between one team that is yet to win this term and another that has just picked up its first victory. Jeju United head to Big Bird on the back of a 1-0 win over Gangwon thanks to Seo Jin-su's 76th-minute strike. The Bluewings, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their first six matches of the season once before, in 2017 when they began with five draws and one loss to pick up three points more than they have now.
Gangwon FC, still not off the mark for the season, are at home to Incheon United this Sunday with one very clear aim - pick up the team's first win. The Bears will be looking to improve their chance conversion rate having score just three goals so far this term. Incheon, meanwhile, are stuck on one win and head to Gangwon on back of a three-match win-less run in the league.
Closing out the weekend's action this Sunday night is Daegu FC versus Gwangju FC, a match between two teams that will be looking to bounce back from defeats last time out. Daegu lost away to FC Seoul while Gwangju lost 2-0 to Pohang Steelers. The is something of a derby, too, the Moonlight Derby.
K League 1 Table
K League 1 Round 7 Fixtures
Saturday 15th April
#SSBvJEJ: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (12th) vs Jeju United (10th) - 14:00
#POHvSEO: Pohang Steelers (2nd) vs FC Seoul (3rd) - 16:30
#SUWvJEO: Suwon FC (6th) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (7th) - 19:00
Sunday 16th April
#GANvINC: Gangwon FC (11th) vs Incheon United (9th) - 14:00
#DHFCvULS: Daejeon Hana Citizen (4th) vs Ulsan Hyundai (1st) - 16:30
#DAEvGWA: Daegu FC (8th) vs Gwangju FC (5th) - 19:00
Where to Watch
Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. Jeju United on Saturday and Daegu FC vs. Gwangju FC on Sunday are the two matches picked for overseas television broadcasting and English commentary. Check local listings for more details.
Alternatively, follow all the action LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on TV.KLeague.com.