Preview: Ulsan Hyundai vs Gwangju FC

Ulsan is determined to continue their race for the title. Saturday's game will be a great chance for Horang-i to continue a good momentum and to celebrate the city's 20th anniversary of promotion to Metropolitan City (Gwang-yeoksi).
(image via uhfc.tv)

Last Time Out

After the humiliation at Jeonju, Ulsan Hyundai managed to snatch an important away win against Daegu FC on Wednesday. An early 26th minute red card for young centre-back Choi Kyu-baek meant Ulsan had to play more than two-thirds of the game with only ten men, but Horang-i eventually secured a 3-1 win at the blazing city, thanks to goals from Park Yong-woo, Jung Jae-yong and Mislav Oršić. With 35 points in 20 games, Ulsan is only 3 points behind the leader Jeonbuk in the table.
Gwangju, on the other hand, is still placed at the bottom of the table with 16 points after a home defeat against Sangju Sangmu on Wednesday. The Bitgoeul (Gwangju city's former name) club lost forward Wanderson in the first half with a red card and goals from Yeo Reum and Joo Min-kyu sealed a win for Sangju.

Previous Meetings

Ulsan and Gwangju have played against each other once this season at Gwangju World Cup Stadium on 8 April. Ulsan took the lead in the 70th minute with Kim Chi-gon's header from a corner kick. Both teams kept making important chances but a late goal from Gwangju's Jo Seong-joon in the 85th minute ended the game in a 1-1 draw.

Who To Watch

The fact that Gwangju will play without the Brazilian striker Wanderson due to his red card in the previous game will be a huge disadvantage for the team. However, young forward Jo Ju-young is expected to replace him. Although Jo Ju-young has not played regularly since Wanderson joined the team in the summer, the 23-year-old Gwangju youth product has proven in the first half of the season that he deserves to be given more chances, with his three goals so far this season being scored against big clubs like Seoul and Jeju. Since manager Nam Ki-il stated that he will not hurry to use Northern Irish striker McGinn until he retains full fit, Jo Ju-young has the burden to rescue his club from the relegation zone.

Prediction

Gwangju's poor recent performances show that the club will have much difficulties against league contender Ulsan. Ulsan quickly recovered from the defeat against Jeonbuk and will be ready to clinch a victory to maintain a winning streak. Horsha Duo (Lee Jong-ho + Oršić) has been in a good form recently and will be ready to find the back of the net once again. Two foreign forwards that joined Ulsan in the summer transfer window (Takuma Abe and Danijel Subotić) will also be ready to come out as substitutes to make their K League debuts and provide some vigor to Horang-i.

Ulsan Hyundai 2-0 Gwangju FC