Preview: FA Cup Round 5

After a couple of upsets and the odd giant killing in round four, the FA Cup is back this week with sixteen teams from the top four divisions of Korean football all vying for a place in the Hana Bank Korean FA Cup quarter finals. The round's only all-K League 1 clash will take place at Sangam where FC Seoul host Jeju United, a repeat of last year's final sees current holders Ulsan Hyundai travel to Busan IPark, whilst one National League side will be guaranteed to advance when Gimhae City entertain Gyeongju KHNP.
(image via K League)

Busan IPark (K2) Vs Ulsan Hyundai (K1)
- Gudeok Stadium, Busan 19:00 (Naver)

For what will be a repeat of last season's FA Cup Final first leg, the current holders of the competition, Ulsan Hyundai, will make the short trip to face Gyeongsang Province neighbours Busan IPark. Busan pulled off a couple of upsets last year by displacing FC Seoul and Jeonnam Dragons en route to the final but were almost the victims themselves in the previous round. IPark needed extra time to see off Gyeongju Citizen of the K3 Advanced and even found themselves trailing before goals from Rômulo and Kim Moonhwan drew Choi Yunkyum's side level. Rômulo bagged his second and Busan's third in the sixth minute of extra time to seal the win. In the third round Busan eased past fellow K2 promotion hopefuls Bucheon. Ulsan, meanwhile, narrowly displaced K2 side Suwon FC in round four. The Horangi have made it to at least the semi finals for the last three years and will be looking to successfully defend their by by seeing off the challenge of Busan IPark to advance to the last eight.

Prediction: Busan IPark 1-2 Ulsan Hyundai

Asan Mugunghwa (K2) Vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (K1)
- Yisunsin Stadium, Asan 19:00

Two of the strongest teams in their respective divisions will face off on Wednesday night when the joint leaders of the K2, Asan Mugunghwa, host runaway K1 league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Asan had to overcome Ansan Greeners in the fourth round before which the police side put Yeoju Sejong to task with a 7-0 home win in round three. Jeonbuk, meanwhile, booked their place in the fifth round comfortably beating Busan Transportation Corporation FC of the K3 Advanced by three-goals-to-one. The reigning K League Champions were knocked out in both 2016 and 2017 by Bucheon 1995 and haven't won the FA Cup since 2005.

Full Preview: here

Jeonnam Dragons (K1) Vs Chuncheon City (K3A)
 - Gwangyang Stadium, Gwangyang 19:00

Three-times winners Jeonnam Dragons will see Wednesday's fixture with K3 Advanced outfit Chuncheon City as an ideal opportunity for the Dragons to book their place in the quarter finals for the third year in a row. Jeonnam have a good record in the FA Cup having reached the semi's in 2015 and the quarters for the last two years running. In the previous round Yoo Sangchul's men overcame fellow POSCO-owned Pohang Steelers. Chuncheon, meanwhile, entered the competition in round two where the Gangwon-based side beat Yangju Citizen 2-0 at home. After which, Chuncheon knocked out Jeonju City and Daejeon Korail to set up this professional versus amateur clash.

Full Preview: here

Cheonan City (NL) Vs Suwon Bluewings (K1)
- Cheonan Football Center, Cheonan 19:00

National League host K League 1 when Cheonan City take on four-times FA Cup winners Suwon Bluewings. Bluewings thrashed K3 opposition Gimpo Citizen at home in the last round, putting the amateur side to task in a 6-1 victory. Up next for Seo Jungwon's men is Cheonan City who currently sit in third place of the third tier. Cheonan booked their place in the fifth round by knocking out fellow National League outfit Gangneung City after extra time and entered the competition in the third round where they beat Jeonju University 3-2 at home have never beaten K League opposition from the five previous occasions having suffered defeats to Daejeon in 2009, Jeonbuk in 2012, Sangju in 2014, Incheon in 2015, and Daejeon again in 2017. Suwon last won the competition in 2016, beating bitter rivals FC Seoul in the two-legged final.

Full Preview: here

Gimhae City (NL) Vs Gyeongju KHNP (NL)
- Gimae Civic Stadium, Gimhae 19:30

At least one National League side willl be guaranteed of a place in the next round when Gimhae City host Gyeongju KHNP. Both sides head into Wednesday's tie on the back of K League giant killings; Gimhae City beat ACL-chasing Gangwon FC by two-goals-to-one, whilst Gyeongju KHNP knocked out 2014 winners Seongnam FC at Tancheon. In the National League both Wednesday's host, Gimhae, and Gyeongju KHNP are vying for the summit of the Korean third tier with just one point separating the two teams in the league. Gyeongju have won the last three meetings, the most recent in Gimhae where Gyeongju ran out 1-0 winners. Gimhae have never made it this far in the competition whilst Gyeongju have already equalled their best placed finish. 

Prediction: Gimae City 0-1 Gyeongju KHNP

Daegu FC (K1) Vs Yangpyeong FC (K3A)
- Daegu Stadium, Daegu 19:30 (Naver)

A 3-1 league win over Gangwon FC will have given Daegu a much-needed boost in their bid to avoid the drop. Up next for Andre's men is the home visit of Yangpyeong who make the long trip south to Blue Arc having pulled of a cupset already this season. The east Gyeonggi-based K3 Advanced side pulled off one of the results of the previous round by soldiering on beyond extra time and into a shootout to knockout to army side Sangju Sangmu. Daegu have only got as far as round four for the last five years and are already on course to equal their best finish since 2009. Daegu have never won the FA Cup but made it to the quarters nine years ago, the semi's a year earlier. To get into the fifth round the North Gyeongsang outfit made light work of Yongin University, winning by four-goals-to-one.

Full Preview: here

FC Seoul (K1) Vs Jeju United (K1)
Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul 19:30 (Naver)

After being handed a tough fourth round tie away to Gyeongnam, it appeared as though any thought of FC Seoul making something of the FA Cup was going to have to wait for another season. However, a penalty shootout win in Changwon, followed by Jeju United's 4-1 win over Korea University, has set up the only all-K League 1 clash of the round. These two sides only met a few days ago with FC Seoul comprehensively beating Cho Sunghwan's men 3-0 at Sangam. A Jeju win might go someway in repairing the damage but a defeat could further pile the pressure on Coach Cho. Jeju are now six games without a win in the league with the FA Cup win over Korea University their only maximum in their last seven outings. United have never won the competition, nor even made the final but can boast of four semi final appearances - 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2013. Last year the Islanders were knocked out in the fifth round by Suwon Bluewings, FC Seoul bowed out in the same round, losing to Busan IPark on penalties having made the last three previous finals.

Full Preview: here

Incheon United (K1) Vs Mokpo City (NL)
Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon 19:30 (Naver)

Three wins wins on the spin for Jørn Andersen's Incheon United was followed by a last minute defeat to Pohang Steelers at home. The result meant that the Durumi fell to joint-bottom of the league alongside Jeonnam Dragons and so will be looking to get back to winning ways on Wednesday night. In the last round Incheon knocked out FC Pocheon with a 2-0 home win. Mokpo, meanwhile, had to overcome K League opposition once again, having been the surprise package in the competition last year. The National League side from South Jeolla beat an in-form FC Anyang away from home in the last round. Last year, Mokpo famously reached the semi finals after beating K League 2 side Seongnam in the quarters.

Prediction: Incheon United 1-0 Mokpo City