Preview: Sangju Sangmu vs FC Seoul

Following last week's comeback win over Daegu FC, Choi Yongsoo's FC Seoul make the trip to North Gyeongsang to take on a revitalised Sangju Sangmu side in K League 1 Round 12 this Sunday evening. Seoul have had the week to recuperate from the Daegu victory but Sangju will be buoyed by their FA Cup win over Jeju United in midweek.

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

FA Cup 5th Round: Sangju Sangmu 1-1 (14-13 pens) Jeju United

Sangju Sangmu booked their place in the FA Cup quarter finals with a penalty shootout victory over fellow K League 1 side Jeju United. Former Incheon United midfielder Elias Aguilar gave Jeju the lead on 51 minutes with what looked to be enough to see the Tangerines through heading into the closing minutes. However, with just a minute of normal time remaining, Shin Changmu levelled to send the tie to extra time. With no goals registered after a further 30 minutes, the game went to penalties with Sangju emerging as winners after an epic shootout.

Highlights: here

FC Seoul 2-1 Daegu FC

FC Seoul came from behind to earn themselves a vital three points in their pursuit of ACL qualification at home to Daegu FC last time out. Daegu took the lead through Kim Wooseok on 12 minutes only for fellow defender Hwang Hyunsoo to level just three minutes later; the 23 year-old nodded home Park Chuyoung's freekick to restore parity.

Park then went on to find the winner with just seven minutes remaining with another free-kick. Despite going for a cross, the veteran found the top corner with his third league goal of the campaign.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

When these two teams met in the capital at the end of March, FC Seoul picked up a 2-0 victory to end Sangju's unbeaten start to the campaign. A Kim Kyungjae own goal just before half time opened the scoring before a neat half volley from Jung Wonjin put the game beyond doubt nine minutes from time.

However, Seoul's last trip to Sangju didn't turn out quite so well for Choi Yongsoo's side. Needing just a point to guarantee safety, a Park Yongju strike in the 64th minute condemned Seoul to 11th place in the table and the indignity of the relegation playoffs.

From 16 previous meeting since the Sangmu team moved to Sangju in 2011 Seoul have 10 wins to Sangju's five and four draws. In Sangju, Seoul have six wins whilst Sangju have four.

Team News

Go Yohan will return from suspension after sitting out the home win over Daegu FC. The one club man had picked up three yellows but is likely to be reinstated to the starting lineup for the visit to Sangju. Go is likely to join Alibaev in the centre of the park with Osmar dropping to defensive midfield in place of Jung Hyeoncheol.

Alternatively, Osmar could play as a left-sided centre back in a three should Kim Wonkyun fail a late fitness test. The former Korea University graduate took a knock in the win over Daegu and was replaced by Kim Wonsik in the second half. Elsewhere, Ha Daesung remains an doubt with a calf injury and Cho Youngwook is on international duty ahead of the U20 World Cup in Poland.

The Adversary

With 17 points from their first 11 matches, Sangju Sangmu find themselves in fifth place in K League 1. The military side actually topped the table heading into the first meeting with FC Seoul this season but, after the 2-0 defeat at Sangam, Kim Taewhan's side went on a run of four games without a win. Since then however Sangju have picked up wins over Jeju in the league and cup as well as against a somewhat in-form Seongnam side last Friday.

Tactically, Kim Taehwan has tended to set his side up in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Song Siwoo up front alongside Park Yongji, who has form for scoring against FC Seoul, Shim Dongwoon, or Song Soyoung. Coach Kim has rotated his defensive midfielders with, on loan from Incheon, Han Seokjong, who scored the only goal of the game for the Durumi last winter in a 1-0 Incheon United win at Sangam, Bae Shinyoung, or Kim Kyungjae all having played in recent weeks. However, Yoon Bitgaram and Kim Minwoo have been largely ever present for Sangju.

Who To Watch

Sangju Sangmu - Yoon Bosang

Goalkeeper Yoon Bosang has played all but one of Sangu Sangmu's 11 league games this season, including in the 2-0 defeat at Sangam in March. Despite the scoreline, Yoon put on an impressive performance and, had it not for a number of key interventions, the scoreline could have been a lot wider than just to goals. If called upon come Sunday, the on-loan Gwangju custodian will be key for Sunday's hosts

FC Seoul - Go Yohan

Go Yohan's last contribution to his side was winning the penalty in the Super Match to allow Park Chuyoung to fire in a 99th minute equaliser. However, the utility man's yellow card in the same game was the club captain's third of the campaign and so Go was forced to watch on from the sidelines as Seoul came back from behind to beat Daegu. Come Sunday, however, Go is back in contention and is likely to replace Osmar in the centre of midfield, partnering Alibaev. Go's energy and effervescent nature will be important in the overall complex of the match, particularly if the hosts have five across the middle of the park.

Prediction

Seoul will make the trip to Sangju full of confidence having come from behind to earn four points from six in their last two matches. Choi Yongsoo will not be expecting anything less than three points from this fixture and, despite Sangju's decent form of late, is perhaps the most likely outcome. If Seoul can win the midfield battle, and use the pace of Pešić and the passing range of Osmar and Alibaev, then those in red and black should have enough to bring all three points back to the capital.