Pohang Steelers showed off their strong team. Pohang overcame the first crisis of the season.
Pohang scored three goals in the 2023 K-League 1 round 13 home game against Daejeon Hana Citizen held at Pohang Steel Yard on the 13th and won a sweaty 3-2 victory. Pohang, which had been sluggish with 1 draw and 2 losses in the last 3 games, succeeded in reversing the mood and tied with FC Seoul on points with 6 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses (23 points), but fell behind in many points and maintained 3rd place.
The recent situation has not been rosy. It was an injured ward. In the match against Daegu on the 9th, as many as 6 people were out of power. Even before Daejeon, Kim Jong-woo, the ‘commander of midfield’, and Park Seung-wook, Jung Jae-hee, and Wandelson, ‘multiplayer’, were not even listed on the list.
What Pohang coach Kim Ki-dong regrets the most is the inexperienced young substitute. Coach Kim explained, “There is a difference in replacement players. The game can be dragged on, but in the end, there is no experienced player who can solve it with a ‘one shot one kill’. Compared to Ulsan, the difference is in the squad.” Among the seven replacements before Daejeon, there were three players under the age of 23 (Kim Jun-ho, Cho Jae-hoon, Lee Ho-jae). There were not enough resources available.
Still, these young resources did it. In the 1st minute of extra time in the second half, with the score tied at 2-2, Go Young-Jun, a 22-year-old and younger resource who received a kill pass from Lee Ho-Jae, rushed to the goal and scored the winning goal with a right-footed shot.
In fact, it is expected that there will be no change in Pohang’s squad this season. Coach Kim said, “I don’t think there will be any additional strikers in the transfer market this summer.”
Photo courtesy of the Professional Football League
Still, I pick Pohang as the team that can stop the solo run of the ‘extreme’ Ulsan Hyundai. Basically, it overcomes its weaknesses with solid organizational skills and ever-changing strategies for each opposing team. Here, the effect options of young replacement resources were added. Above all, 2nd place Seoul lost both matches against Ulsan this season. On the other hand, Pohang unfortunately drew 2-2 in the season’s first ‘East Coast Derby’ on April 22nd. Ulsan had a hard time with Pohang’s irregular defensive tactics.토토사이트
Coach Kim pointed out the secret to escaping from a winless streak, saying, “It was a winless streak in three games, including two consecutive losses, but we were able to lead the game the way we wanted with confidence and faith as we continued to create chances.” He continued, “I conceded immediately after scoring the opening goal, but it is encouraging that it did not collapse even if I allowed a tie.”