K LEAGUE

2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 Round 22 Preview

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Games across Tuesday and Wednesday sees all 12 teams take to the field for what will be the final matchdays of this season's second round robin. In Round 22 of the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign, sixth take on fourth when Daejeon Hana Citizen welcome Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to Purple Arena, runaway league leaders Ulsan Hyundai are at home to Incheon United, while Gangwon FC and draw-clinching midfielder Han Kook-young make the trip south to Daegu FC.

Alternative Match of the Round

Daejeon Hana Citizen (6th) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (4th), Wed. 12th July - 19:30

After four draws in a row, Daejeon Hana Citizen will be determined to get back to winning ways this Wednesday when the 2023 season reaches Round 22. Last time out, Daejeon let a two-goal lead slip at home to bottom-placed Suwon Samsung Bluewings but may have felt hard done by after hitting the woodwork twice in the first half alone. The Purples remain in the top six but only just with a superior goals-scored tally all that's separating them from Jeju United and Gwangju FC in seventh and eighth respectively. Jeonbuk, meanwhile, have raced up to fourth place following back-to-back wins and five victories in six matches. The most recent was a 2-1 home triumph over FC Seoul thanks to Cho Gue-sung and Rafael Silva. For Cho, it was his final appearance for the club before moving to Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland.

Daejeon take on Jeonbuk at home in the top tier of Korean football for the first time since the summer of 2015. On that occasion, at a balmy summer's night in Noeun-dong, Jeonbuk emerged as the victors following a pulsating seven-goal thriller; a game in which Jeonbuk were pegged back three times before eventually finding a late winner through Lee Dong-gook. The Purples overcame the Green Warriors when the two teams met earlier in the campaign with Anton Kryvotskyuk scoring his first goal for the club before Lee Jin-hyun scored straight from a corner and so Jeonbuk will be looking for revenge, not to mention keep up their impressive recent form of four wins from five.

Daejeon and Jeonbuk actually rank fairly low when it comes to total shots dispatched; the Purples are 11th while the Green Warriors are eighth. However, it's a different story when it comes to shots on target with Jeonbuk fourth (40.3%) and Daejeon fourth (40%). So, while there might not be too many shots on goal, they should at least be on target.

Team of the Round

Ulsan Hyundai (vs. Incheon United, Wed. 12th July - 19:00)

Victory in the East Coast Derby moves Ulsan Hyundai 16 points clear at the top of K League 1. It was a somewhat efficient win, too, as the Horangi had two shots in the 90+ minutes, both on target, with one earning the points - Joo Min-kyu's close-range effort from a Seol Young-woo ball across the six-yard box. But with 21 matches played, in a 12-team, 38-match K League 1, no team has had this strong of a lead. Round 22 brings the second round robin to an end, signalling the start of the final furlong in what is now a one-horse title race. The only team that has had a lead anywhere near as strong in the last 10 seasons is Jeonbuk in 2018 who were 11 points clear of Gyeongnam FC after 21 matches played with 50 points and 41 goals scored. Ulsan, then, under Hong Myung-bo and with this group of players who have racked up 53 points and 45 goals scored, are on course to be one of the best teams in modern K League history. Ulsan take on Incheon United on Wednesday, a side that has one win in its last five outings and who they beat 1-0 in the first meeting of 2023 courtesy of a goal from Martin Ádám.

Player of the Round

Han Kook-young, Gangwon FC (vs. Daegu FC, Tue. 11th July - 19:00)

Gangwon FC may be on a run of 11 matches without a win but the 1-1 draw with Gwangju FC on Friday night might have felt something like a victory. The Bears went a goal down in the 92nd minute with Timo Letschert scoring what he and Gwangju thought was the winner but deep into time added on, Han Kook-young levelled. The point moved Gangwon four points above Suwon Bluewings and kept the gap with Suwon FC in 10th at six points after their draw with Incheon. It was Han's first league goal of the season and first in K League since the 2021 playoffs. Han Kook-young has been unlucky with injuries in recent seasons and was limited to just six appearances in 2022 but in 2023 he has already managed 21 having played in every Gangwon match so far this term. Han has also managed three assists, all in games that Gangwon have earned points: the 1-1 draw with Suwon FC, the 2-2 draw with Jeju United, and the 3-2 win over FC Seoul. His passing accuracy is 88% overall, 68% for long passes, and he is averaging 3.49 interceptions per match. Up next for Han and Gangwon is Daegu FC away on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in K League 1 Round 22

One of the two Tuesday night fixtures in Round 22 is Jeju United at home to Gwangju FC. Jeju and Gwangju are both locked on 29 points and now both sit outside the top six following Daejeon's 2-2 draw with Suwon Bluewings. Jeju are without a win in six with four losses and so will be determined to get back on track. Nam Ki-il's men will be looking to make the most of their excellent shooting accuracy with only Ulsan having bettered them in that regard this season. Gwangju, meanwhile, lead the division for shots from outside the area with 123.

With Jeonbuk now creeping up on them and level on points, FC Seoul take on Suwon FC knowing that anything less than a win could see them drop out of the AFC Champions League places. Suwon FC, given their perilous position in the first relegation playoff place, are seeking a first win in five to try and narrow the gap with Incheon in ninth. Suwon, despite sitting 10th, are second for total shots and joint-first for shots from outside the area. Lars Veldwijk helps in that regard and sits fourth in the league for total shots while Yoon Bit-garam is third for shots from outside the area.

Still only three points away from Gangwon FC just above them in the table, Suwon Samsung Bluewings take on Pohang Steelers this Wednesday, a side that suffered defeat in the East Coast Derby last time out. With the Bluewings having scored more goals than Gangwon, a win coupled with a Gangwon loss could move them off the foot of the table. Pohang, on the other hand, would see their four-point cushion over third dwindle to a single point should they lose to the Bluewings but a win would get their pursuit of second place back on track.

K League 1 Table

K League 1 Round 22 Fixtures

Tuesday 11th July

#DAEvGAN: Daegu FC (5th) vs Gangwon FC (11th) - 19:00
#JEJvGWA: Jeju United (7th) vs Gwangju FC (8th) - 19:30

Wednesday 11th July

#ULSvINC: Ulsan Hyundai (1st) vs Incheon United (9th) - 19:00
#SEOvSUW: FC Seoul (3rd) vs Suwon FC (10th) - 19:30
#SSBvPOH: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (12th) vs Pohang Steelers (2nd) - 19:30
#DHFCvJEO: Daejeon Hana Citizen (6th) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (4th) - 19:30

Where to Watch

Daegu FC versus Gangwon FC and Ulsan Hyundai versus Incheon United are the matches picked for English commentary.

Follow all the action from Round 22 LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on TV.KLeague.com.

next Interview: Daejeon Hana Citizen's Anton Kryvotsyuk

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