It made me feel once again how important it is to have a frontline goalkeeper with a stable condition. K-League 1 Ulsan Hyundai and FC Seoul laughed and cried while feeling the attacker’s ‘one shot’ in different games.
Ulsan won 1-0 with striker Ju Min-gyu’s final shot in the 23rd minute of the first half in the 21st round Pohang Steelers of the ‘Hanawon Q K League 1 2023’ held at Pohang Steel Yard on the 9th in the ‘East Coast Derby’. Ulsan, who had 5 consecutive victories, continued its solo run with 17 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses (53 points), widening the gap to 2nd place Pohang (37 points) to 16 points.
The content of the game was good for Pohang. Coach Kim Ki-dong pressed from a high position from the beginning to control the rear build-up that Ulsan is good at. He had a huge 16-4 lead in the number of shots. However, Cho Hyeon-woo, the national team’s goalkeeper of the ‘last bastion’, saved Pohang’s decisive 4 effective shots. It blocked Kim In-seong and Baek Sung-dong’s right foot, Go Young-jun’s left foot, and Jeka’s header shot.
And it was Joo Joo-kyu, who scored the top scorer (11 goals), who gave him 3 points. Seol Young-woo, who played as a left fullback, exquisitely beat the opponent’s defense, dug into the left side of the penalty arc, and Joo Min-gyu rushed in and finished the ball with a low and quick cross. The Pohang defense caught up, but the quick rush and shot were excellent.
On this day, Ulsan’s tall striker Martin Adam missed due to accumulated warnings. Ju Min-gyu’s shoulders were so heavy. However, he scored only one shot on target.
On the other hand, on the same day, Seoul lost 1-2 in an away game against Jeonbuk Hyundai at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. According to soccer data company ‘Bpro Eleven’, Seoul hit 15 shots, more than Jeonbuk (12). However, only 4 shots were effective. The effective shot-to-shot ratio was only 26.7%. For Jeonbuk, half of them, 6, went to the goal.
The front line split the joys and sorrows. In the 21st minute of the second half when Jeonbuk faced 0-0, Cho Kyu-seong, the national team goal scorer, scored the opening goal after only 2 minutes after coming on as a substitute. Shaking Seoul, nine minutes later, Hava Silva scored the second goal and practically withdrew. Right before the end, Na Sang-ho scored a goal from a penalty kick, but they couldn’t chase it anymore.
Seoul has no field goals for two consecutive games since the departure of another national striker, Hwang Eui-jo, who played on loan until last month. It’s the first time this season.
Hwang Eui-jo marked first place in both the number of shots (40) and effective shots (20) while playing 19 league games in Seoul. In addition, he created opportunities for his teammates through linked play, but he is having a hard time filling his vacancy right now.메이저놀이터
Ilyuchenko, who started with only one shot in the previous match and the 20th round, kept the front line again that day, but both shots failed to hit the goal. Park Dong-jin, who came on as a substitute, also stepped away with one shot.
After the game, Seoul coach Ahn Ik-soo said, “Ilyuchenko and Park Dong-jin work hard so that (Hwang Ui-jo’s) vacancy is not felt,” adding that more time is needed. However, he added, “I will find more ways” given that his scoring power has significantly decreased.