The second “Kim Ki-dong Derby” will be held this weekend in the K League 1 of professional football this season.
Pohang will play a home game against FC Seoul in the 14th round of the “Hana Bank K League 1 2024” at Pohang Steelyard at 7 p.m. on the 25th.
The confrontation between the two teams is called the “Kim Ki-dong Derby” because of coach Kim Ki-dong, who led Pohang until last season and took the helm of Seoul this season.
In the first “Kim Ki-dong Derby” of this season on April 13, Pohang beat Seoul 4-2 overall. Coach Kim Ki-dong, who sought victory against his former team at his home ground in Seoul, lost a lot of points, which dampened his pride.
With the season heading into the middle after the beginning of the season, the two teams are in opposite directions.
Pohang, where Kim Ki-dong left and Park Tae-ha was newly appointed, is at the forefront of the league. It has seven wins, four draws and two losses (25, 19 points, goal difference +9) in 13 games.
They have the same points and multiple points as second-place Gimcheon Sangmu, but are ahead in goal difference (+5).
In the previous round, however, the team lost 0-1 to Suwon FC, and had no loss in 11 consecutive games (7 wins and 4 draws). If the Kim Ki-dong derby is caught, the team could fall to third place.
For Pohang, Jung Jae-hee, who is playing a surprise role this season, is tied for second (7 goals) in the scoring rankings, and Lee Ho-jae is playing his part as a joker.
However, key midfielder Kim Jong-woo left due to a calf injury, and Brazilian striker Giorgi has yet to report a point.
What is more urgent is Seoul. Expectations were high on the team’s coach Kim Ki-dong, who led Pohang to second place in the regular season league and win the Korea Football Association FA Cup (currently the Korea Cup), but the team is now in eighth place (four wins, three draws and six losses).
On the 19th, they lost 1-2 to Daegu FC at home, failing to continue their 2-1 victory over Incheon United. It’s a shame that they can’t go up because they don’t have consecutive wins in the season.
Defense anxiety is rarely resolved after Kim Joo-sung, who was the main center back, left due to injury.
On top of that, goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom, who was fined for provoking opposing supporters in an away match in Incheon, accidentally provided an excuse for losing a point in the last match against Daegu.
It is positive that England’s national midfielder Jesse Lingard, who left due to injury and surgery, returned.
Lingard started for the first time since joining Seoul in the last match against Daegu and played until the 18th minute of the second half, showing lighter footwork than expected.
Although he failed to raise the offensive point, he was more excited about the future as head coach Kim Ki-dong gave a good evaluation.
Ulsan HD, the “defending champion” who suffered its first consecutive defeat of the season, will face Daejeon Hana Citizen, whose head coach is vacant, at Ulsan Munsu Stadium on the 25th.
Ulsan drew 2-2 with Gimcheon on the 12th, lost 1-2 to Gwangju FC on the 15th, and lost 0-1 to Gangwon FC on the 19th, falling to three consecutive games (1 draw and 2 losses) with its first two consecutive losses of the season.
Defense anxiety is pointed out as the biggest reason for the recent slump. Veteran defender Kim Young-kwon faltered, and right fullback Seol Young-woo left due to shoulder surgery.
Daejeon has been in a worse situation with no wins (two draws and two losses) in the last four consecutive games. After losing 0-1 to Incheon on the 18th, coach Lee Min-sung stepped down on his own on the 21st. 먹튀검증
To make matters worse, with leading midfielder Lee Soon-min missing due to a ruptured ankle ligament, Latvian goaltender Gutek also injured his ankle, which is not a normal performance.
In the midst of this, Daejeon has put the burden of senior coach Chung Kwang-seok having to deal with Ulsan as an acting coach.
Daejeon won 2-0 in the first confrontation of the season between the two teams, which was held in five rounds on April 2.