As we draw closer to another international break, the 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 season rolls on with Round 28. At the top of the table, league leaders Gangwon FC travel to an equally in-form FC Seoul, Gimcheon Sangmu look to get back on track against an improving Daejeon Hana Citizen, Pohang Steelers host Daegu FC, and Ulsan HD travel to Gwangju. Elsewhere, Suwon FC face off with Jeju United, and in a relegation six-pointer, Incheon United welcome Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Incheon United (9th) vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (12th) - Sat. 24th August, 19:30
Towards the bottom of the table, Incheon United face off with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in this week’s standout match. The hosts are in mixed form, having won two and lost three of their last five games, but sit just two points clear of 12th place. In a 2-1 loss against fellow relegation rivals Daejeon Hana Citizen, Incheon did manage an xG of 1.23 from 14 shots, and positively had 38 positional attacks too, but were ultimately left to rue missed opportunities after conceding the losing goal deep into stoppage time.
As for Jeonbuk, they returned to winning ways in dramatic style, with a 100th-minute Kwon Chang-hoon winner securing them the three points at home to title-challenging Pohang Steelers. There, the Green Warriors imposed themselves on the game with an xG of 2.72, 18 high recoveries, six accurate crosses, 43 interceptions, and 56 accurate progressive passes, giving hope that the team can gain some momentum as the season heads towards its climax. Nevertheless, for now at least, Jeonbuk remain bottom.
The last time these two teams met, Incheon came from two goals down to earn themselves an important 2-2 draw. Prior to that, though, the Durumi beat Jeonbuk 3-0 on home soil, ending a six-game winless run for them in this fixture in the process.
Team of the Round
After four consecutive victories, FC Seoul could well be aiming higher than just a Final A finish. Only three points away from third, the in-form team in K League 1 have found their feet under Kim Gi-dong, and are now being rewarded. In a 1-0 win against Jeju, Seoul again reaped the benefits of being well-structured, making 41 low recoveries, 40 interceptions, winning 45 of their 65 defensive duels, limiting their opposition to four attempts on target, and importantly finding a way to secure three points from an xG tally of 0.5.
Seoul’s opposition this week comes in the form of league leaders Gangwon FC, who themselves have also won four times in a row. Most recently, the Bears came from two goals down to score a triumphant 3-2 win over Gwangju, widening their gap at the top of the table to four points as a result. However, in round 19 it was Kim Gi-dong's men who ran out as 2-0 winners in this fixture, extending their home unbeaten run over Gangwon to seven matches (five wins, two draws).
Player of the Round
Cesinha, Daegu FC (vs. Pohang Steelers, Sat. 24th August, 19:00)
In Daegu FC’s vital 3-0 victory over Gimcheon Sangmu, it was once again Cesinha who helped the Sky Blues make headlines. In addition to scoring twice, the Brazilian took five shots, created an xG of 0.47, made six successful dribbles, three recoveries in the opposition half, five progressive runs, three accurate passes to the final third, and attempted five crosses. With that win, Daegu remain in 11th, one point away from ninth, which would in turn mean K League 1 safety.
Up next for Daegu is Pohang Steelers. After three consecutive losses, Park Tae-ha’s men might be feeling slightly vulnerable, particularly after a game against Jeonbuk where they managed a low xG total of 0.32 (compared to their xGA of 2.72), despite having 25 positional attacks, and completing 38 passes to the final third. Back in round 21, these two teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Elsewhere in K League 1
After seeing their three-game winning streak end last weekend, Gwangju FC will be hoping to bounce back when they host Ulsan HD. The Griffins have shown plenty of positives this year, though, ranking fifth for xG (38.09), first for ball possession (57.2% per 90), and third for touches in the opposition box (16.49 per 90). Ulsan, on the other hand, have lost three out of their last four league matches, but can take encouragement from the fact they still rank second for xG (41.10) and key passes (90), in addition to being first for touches in the opposition box (18.32 per 90), and passes to the final third (53.37 per 90). The last four times this fixture has been played in K League 1, Gwangju have came out on the winning side, but Wednesday’s Korea Cup fixture finished 1-0 to Ulsan, thanks to a second-half goal from Yago Cariello.
This Sunday, Suwon FC face Jeju United. Kim Eun-jung’s men got back on track last time out with a 2-1 away win at Ulsan, and will be buoyed by the fact they managed 17 shots, 34 accurate passes to the final third, and an xG of 1.83 against the 10-men reigning champions. Meanwhile, a 1-0 defeat to FC Seoul meant consecutive league defeats for Jeju, who rank second for shots against this year (345), and 11th for xG (33.89), yet positively the third-highest when it comes to challenge intensity (4.8 duels, tackles and interceptions per minute of opposition possession). In 2024, these two teams have traded victories against each other, with home advantage important on both occasions.
Rounding out the action for this week, Gimcheon Sangmu host Daejeon Hana Citizen. The military side will be frustrated following a 3-0 defeat to Daegu, where they were unable to show a clinical edge despite creating an xG of 2.8 from 19 shots, 46 positional attacks, and nine accurate crosses. As for Daejeon, they made it back-to-back victories last weekend through an added-time winner against Incheon United, which keeps them in 10th. Positively, the Purples have only lost once across their last five games, perhaps pointing to signs they're hitting form at just the right time. When these teams last played each other, though, Gimcheon came away 2-0 victors.
K League 1 Table
K League 1 Round 28 Fixtures
Saturday 24th August
#POHvDAE: Pohang Steelers (4th) vs. Daegu FC (11th) - 19:00
#INCvJEO: Incheon United (9th) vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (12th) - 19:30 [ENG]
#SEOvGAN: FC Seoul (6th) vs. Gangwon FC (1st) - 19:30 [ENG]
Sunday 25th August
#GWAvULS: Gwangju FC (7th) vs. Ulsan HD FC (3rd) - 19:00
#SUWvJEJ: Suwon FC (5th) vs. Jeju United (8th) - 19:00 [ENG]
#GIMvDHFC: Gimcheon Sangmu (2nd) vs. Daejeon Hana Citizen (10th) - 19:00
Where to Watch
