Pohang Steelers vs Suwon

Pohang Steel Yard plays host to an exciting K League 1 showdown between high-flying Pohang Steelers and underperforming Suwon.

Pohang Steelers battled back from a 1-0 halftime deficit to beat Gangwon 2-1 in midweek FA Cup action and book a place in the semi-finals. After making it four competitive games without losing (W3, D1), Kim Gi-dong’s men return to K League 1 action to consolidate their pursuit of a playoff berth, with six points separating them from 7th-placed Gwangju ahead of this round. They’ve been a force to be reckoned with a home this season, losing just one of their nine league matches (W6, D2), including three victories on the trot in the build-up to this fixture. Another positive result is well on the cards, with Pohang beating Suwon in their last three top-flight H2Hs as hosts by an aggregate score of 6-1.

In the meantime, Suwon overcame a narrow halftime disadvantage to hold Gangwon to a 1-1 home draw last time out, ending an underwhelming run of back-to-back league defeats. However, with as many as nine points standing between them and the final playoff spot, this is a ‘must-win’ contest for the visitors, who head into proceedings as the worst traveling side in K League 1. Indeed, Kim Do-kyun’s lads have picked up a league-low five points across their eight league travels this season (W1, D2, L5), suffering three defeats on their last four top-flight trips (W1). With each loss in that sequence coming ‘to one,’ it’s clear Suwon must improve at the back if they’re to post their first K League 1 triumph away to Pohang since 2016.