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K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.

Preview: FC Seoul Vs. Ulsan Hyundai

league 2021.08.23   I   조회수 1535


More mid-week K League action sees 11th-placed FC Seoul host league leaders Ulsan Hyundai at Seoul World Cup Stadium this Wednesday as the 2021 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign reaches Round 27. For Seoul, a first win over Ulsan in nearly four years could move them up to ninth. The Horangi, meanwhile, will be keen to ensure that their lead at the top of the table is kept at at least five points.

Recent Form

After a run of three matches unbeaten with two wins, FC Seoul now find themselves second-bottom of the table after three matches without victory. Park Jin-sub's men suffered back-to-back losses to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Jeju United then had to share the spoils with 10-man Pohang on Sunday night following a 2-2 draw. Seoul were awarded a 90th minute penalty, too, when Aleksandar Paločević was adjudged to have been fouled in the box. The Serbian duly stepped up to take but saw his spot kick saved by his former Steelers teammate Kang Hyun-mu in what was the last kick of the game. Seoul have just one win in five and two in 18 in the league.

Ulsan Hyundai make the long trip to the capital on the back of a 3-1 win over Suwon Bluewings. Ulsan had to come from behind too after Kim Min-woo had given the Bluewings a 15th minute lead from the spot. However, a Lee Chung-yong levelled on 39 minutes with a wonderfully curling strike hit with the outside of the foot to send the two sides in at the break even. Lee then added his and the Horangi's second on 83 minutes before Lee Dong-jun made it 3-1 in the second minute of time added on, Lee Chung-yong with the assist. In the league, Ulsan are unbeaten in five with three wins and two draws. The Horangi have lost just three times all season and just once in their last 10.

Team News

FC Seoul are likely to be without striker Ji Dong-won who limped out of the 2-2 draw with Pohang Steelers on Sunday night with a muscle injury. Gabriel, who came off the bench to score his second in FC Seoul colours, is likely to get the nod in Ji's place. Kim Won-gun is a doubt with a thigh injury while fellow central defender Hwang Hyun-soo is just one booking away from a one-match ban and so, if selected, will have to be careful so not to miss the next match. Of late, manager Park Jin-sub has looked to find the winning formula formation-wise and has used a 4-33, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-1-1, as well as a 5-3-2 in recent weeks. The latter was used in the previous meeting with Ulsan Hyundai at the end of July. Connor Chapman made his FC Seoul debut in the draw with his former employers Pohang Steelers on Sunday and will be hoping his performance was enough to keep his place alongside Osmar at the heart of the defence. 

Ulsan boss Hong Myung-bo should have a full squad to choose from for the trip to Sangam. Attacking midfielder Yoon Bit-garam was again named as a substitute for the win over Suwon, Valeri Qazaishvili too but came on in place of Lee Dong-gyeong in the second half. Whereas his opposite number has tinkered with his formations, Hong has largely stuck with the 4-2-3-1, including when these two sides last met on July 31st. 

Head-to-Head

The most recent meeting between the two sides came just over a month ago when, much like this Wednesday, FC Seoul played host to Ulsan at Sangam. The game ended 0-0 in a game which had few chances finding the target - just one from FC Seoul out of six attempts overall, three from Ulsan out of seven. Back in April, Ulsan ran out 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Kim Min-jun, Qazaishvili, and Lee Dong-jun; Jung Han-min and Paločević for Seoul.

In K League there have been 169 previous meetings between FC Seoul and Ulsan Hyundai. Ulsan have 63 wins compared to Seoul's 51 and 55 draws. Over the last 10 encounters Ulsan have picked up seven wins, three draws and remain undefeated. Seoul's last win over Ulsan dates back to October 2017 - a 3-0 victory at home thanks to goals from Lee Myung-joo, Osmar, and Dejan. In terms of goals scored, Ulsan lead 213 to 193 overall, 21-8 over the last 10 encounters. 

What to Watch

Lee Chung-yong versus Ki Sung-yueng



To work their way back to winning ways, FC Seoul will be looking to their captain Ki Sung-yeung to pull the strings from midfield. Against Pohang, Ki was deployed a touch further up the field than usual in the centre of midfield with Yeo Reum acting as the shield in front of the back four. Against Pohang, Ki showed a passing accuracy rate of 89%, 63% for long passes and 71% of his passes to the final third found their intended target. He created two shooting opportunities (shot assists) which brings his total for the season to 10.

Ulsan Hyundai will also be looking to their skipper come Wednesday night. Lee Chung-yong has made just three starts for Ulsan this term but will have given his manager food for thought ahead of the trip to the capital this Wednesday. Lee, who spent five seasons with Seoul before departing for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League, got his goal-scoring account up and running for the season with the brace against the Bluewings on Sunday. 

A win for FC Seoul could be enough to lift them up to ninth place, still with a game in hand, as the team battles relegation. Ulsan, meanwhile, will be keen to keep their five-point cushion ahead of Jeonbuk.

Where to Watch




FC Seoul versus Ulsan Hyundai kicks off at 19:30 KST on Wednesday 25th August 2021. Fans in countries with K League overseas broadcasting rights can follow the game live on television. More information can be found here.

Alternatively, the match is also available for FREE on tv.kleague.com.


Paul Neat
Managing Editor
Twitter: @NeatPaul


K LEAGUE