The Bluewings will be hoping they can start turning possession into more chances converted as they sit fourth in the division in that regard with 53.8%. Suwon might feel a little unlucky as with an xG of 13.99 with nine goals scored, they are underperforming and would therefore be expected to, eventually, start finding the back of the net. Jeonbuk, too, for that matter as the Green Warriors have scored 11 from an xG of 14.49. Both teams will be looking at Wednesday's fixture as a place to truly kickstart their seasons. When the two teams met earlier in the campaign, the match finished as a 1-1 draw thanks to Maxwell Acosty cancelling out Cho Gue-sung's first-half penalty. Suwon, though, haven't beaten Jeonbuk in the league since just over two years ago - a 3-1 win in Jeonju in Round 14 of the 2021 season.
Team of the Round
Jeju United (vs. Incheon United, Wed. 10th May - 19:30)
Jeju United's 2-1 victory over Pohang Steelers at the weekend made it three wins on the spin and four from their last five matches. This is enough to move the Tangerines into fifth place and just three points behind FC Seoul in second. Jeju have, so far, been the most accurate shooters in the division with 44.4% of all attempts on goal finding the target. Nam Ki-il has several players in his team who can carry the ball up the field accurately and evidence of this is the best dribbling success rate in K League 1 at 55.2%. Reis, for example, sits eighth in the division with one-on-one dribbling success at 62.22%. Jeju have also scored highly for crosses with 13.61 per 90 minutes being the second-most. This Wednesday, Jeju welcome Incheon United to the island for what will be Gerso Fernandes' first trip back since making the switch from Seogwipo to Sungui Arena Park.
Player of the Round
Valeri Qazaishvili, Ulsan Hyundai (vs. Gangwon FC, Tue. 9th May - 19:00)
Two goals in his last two games from Valeri Qazaishvili have helped Ulsan Hyundai onto three wins in a row. His most recent goal came in the 3-0 away win over Daegu FC, making it 2-0 on 39 minutes showing poise and determination to work his way onto the edge of the box before guiding the ball into the bottom corner. His first of the campaign came in the 2-1 win over Gwangju, equalising in the 87th minute. The Georgia international has played 10 matches this season, seven from the start, and ranks seventh for one-on-one dribbles per 90 minutes with 5.53 and eighth for total shots with 28, second per 90 minutes at 3.18. Up next for Qazaishvili and Ulsan is the visit of Gangwon FC.
Elsewhere in K League 1 Round 12
Daegu FC welcome their North Gyeongsang province neighbours Pohang Steelers to DGB Daegu Bank Park this Tuesday looking for a return to winning ways. The Sky Blues lost last time out, falling 3-0 at home to champions Ulsan Hyundai. Manager Choi Won-kwon will be looking to Brazilian striker Edgar Silva who leads the league for heading goals having scored three with his head so far this term. All three, in fact, have come from corners. Pohang's biggest goal threat is Goh Young-jun who has four for the campaign so far which is of little surprise as his shooting accuracy is the fourth-best in K League 1 at 55.56%.
FC Seoul's draw with Jeonbuk last time out was enough to keep them in second place. The capital club take on a Gwangju FC side this Tuesday that also drew last time out - 0-0 at home to Daejeon. Seoul have lost to a newly-promoted club already this season, that being Daejeon, but the capital club haven't lost to Gwangju since July 2017 and have never lost to their South Jeolla counterparts at home.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Daejeon Hana Citizen take on Suwon FC almost exactly three years to the very day that the Hana era began. On 9th May 2020, Daejeon Hana Citizen beat Suwon FC 2-1 on what was the K League 2 opening day that year. The two sides have met already this season, though, and played out an eight-goal thriller with Suwon coming out on top 5-3, despite trailing 2-0 and 3-1.
K League 1 Table
K League 1 Round 12 Fixtures
Tuesday 9th May
#ULSvGAN: Ulsan Hyundai (1st) vs Gangwon FC (11th) - 19:00
#DAEvPOH: Daegu FC (8th) vs Pohang Steelers (3rd) - 19:30
#SEOvGWA: FC Seoul (2nd) vs Gwangju FC (7th) - 19:30
Wednesday 10th May
#JEJvINC: Jeju United (5th) vs Incheon United (9th) - 19:30
#SSBvJEO: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (12th) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (10th) - 19:30
#DHFCvSUW: Daejeon Hana Citizen (4th) vs Suwon FC (6th) - 19:30
Where to Watch
Follow all the action LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on
TV.KLeague.com.
