At 18:30 on July 13th, in the 23rd round of the K League, Jeju United will host league leaders and the team with the fewest goals conceded, Pohang Steelers, at their home ground.
The temperature on Jeju Island today is 24 degrees Celsius, and it is also the only place in the entire country experiencing rain. There’s a high probability that this match will be played in the rain, with the overcast and rainy weather adding an element of unpredictability to the game.
The home team, Jeju United, has been repeatedly swinging between wins and losses recently, showing considerable fluctuations. An Tae-Hyeon, who has been in good form, scored the only goal for the team in the last match, but they still suffer from a shortage of strikers. The good news is that the center-forward Jeju fans have been eagerly awaiting, Yuri Jonathan, has already resumed normal training and may return to the squad for this match. To increase the depth of their attacking line, they signed Japanese import Kai Nishio, who has a record of 154 appearances, 19 goals, and 26 assists in the Japanese league. Garêgo, the Brazilian winger who joined from Gangwon FC, had a top sprint speed of 36.21 km/h last season. The addition of these two players can enrich the team’s attacking options.
However, Jeju United’s injury problems remain severe, with two key defenders, Lim Jae-Min and Song Ju-Kyun, likely to continue sitting out. Kim Kyoung-Woong, the versatile midfielder who got injured in the last match, will need to undergo an MRI scan and is almost certain to miss this game.
The visiting team, Pohang Steelers, reclaimed the top spot after defeating Gangwon FC in the last round. The team’s head coach Park Tae-Ha, who was previously sent off with a red card, will have to watch the match from the stands again, unable to command from the sidelines. The good news is that the team’s key forward, Heo Young-Jun, returns from suspension, allowing the team to maintain its characteristic of having multiple scoring points that are difficult to defend against. With just 22 goals conceded, Pohang Steelers have the best defensive record in the K League up to Round 22. Oberdan, the Brazilian import who was awarded MVP in the last round, covers a vast area and is truly the backbone of the team.
In terms of injuries, midfield general Park Jong-Woo continues his recovery. The newly recruited U-23 international, An Jae-Joon, is also sidelined due to injury and won’t be available for selection in the short term.
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