Preview: Pohang Steelers vs Ulsan Hyundai FC

photo courtest of http://www.steelers.co.kr/

Stuck On Repeat...

I starting to feel like a CD that's stuck on repeat. I've been saying for the past month about how the Steelers need wins if they want to play in the playoffs. I've mentioned that the teams ahead of Pohang are going to start to pull ahead on points and leave the Steelers behind but yet here I am once again saying we need to WIN!!! Although the Steelers have lost their last two matches Seongnam who is holding seventh place by a string has lost their last three matches leaving us only three points behind with four matches left.

Stats

This week we travel south to Ulsan where we take on the third place Tigers. Ulsan have been on a bit of a slide as well their last 5 matches 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss. Overall at home they are 5-3-6 scoring 14 and conceding 19. Their last 5 matches at home 1-1-3 scoring 5 and conceding 6. Unfortunately the Steelers on the road this season are 3-4-8 scoring 10 and conceding 20! The Steelers last 5 away matches 0-1-4 scoring 2 and conceding 9. Ugly stats for both team here but there is hope....

Player Info

Yang Dong-hyun last match showed why he is one of the best goal scorers in the league. He managed to score 2 goals in the first half. I also loved the 4-2-3-1 formation that was used, I hope Choi Jin-cheul uses it for this match as well. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to defeat Suwon City. I do think that coming into this game spirits will be high it was a loss but a tough loss conceding and own goal in the 87'. So that's back to back matches losing due to a late goal. Ulsan will be without midfielder Masuda and defender Celio due to yellow card suspension. The player the Steelers have to worry about is Kovacec who has 7 goals this season.

Prediction

Last five head to head matches when Ulsan are at home Pohang has won 2 and the last 3 have been draws 2-2, 1-1, and the most recent 0-0. I really like Pohang's chances here to walk away with 3 points...There I said it a prediction for Pohang to WIN!