After slipping to third place, Ulsan HD is looking to bounce back.
Ulsan will host Jeju United in the 25th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 at Jeju World Cup Stadium on Saturday at 7:30pm. The once-leading Ulsan currently sits in third place with 12 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses and 42 points. Pohang Steelers (44-1) and Gimcheon Commerce (43-2) are above Ulsan. Gangwon FC (fourth) and Suwon FC (fifth, with 41 points) are also in contention for the top spot.
After the departure of A-team coach Hong Myung-bo, Ulsan has played three games under acting head coach Lee Kyung-soo. The team won 1-0 at home against FC Seoul on March 13, thanks to a dramatic goal from Lee Min-gyu. In the Korea Cup quarterfinals against Incheon United on the 17th, Ulsan won 1-0 thanks to Kim Min-joon’s comeback goal after coming off the bench. However, the team’s three-game winning streak came to an end in a 0-2 loss at home to Jeonbuk Hyundai on the 20th.
Desperate Ulsan turns the corner against Jeju. Ulsan is currently on a five-game winning streak against Jeju. They won all three meetings last season and have come from behind in both meetings this season. Lee Min-kyu and Uhm Won-sang have been at the center of their success, and they’ll be looking to make it six in a row.
Lee Min-kyu scored a goal each on April 2 and June 20 last year.
Lee Min-kyu (8 goals, 4 assists in 23 games) scored a goal each on April 2 (3-1 win) and June 20 (5-1 win) last year. In the July 21 home match (2-1 win), he came on as a substitute in the 27th minute of the second half, but was unable to add any offensive points. 파워볼실시간 This year, he had one assist in a 3-1 home win on April 28 and two goals and one assist in a come-from-behind win on June 23. Recently, he has been playing well against Jeju with more than one point per game in a five-game streak of four goals and two assists.
Uhm Won-sang (4 goals, 2 assists in 21 games) is also strong against Jeju. Last year, he had a goal and an assist on April 2 and a goal and an assist on June 10. On July 21, he came on as a late starter but had no offensive points. This year, he reignited with a goal on April 28 and an assist on June 23. Recently, he continued his streak of one offensive point per game with two goals and three assists in five games against Jeju.
The two have fantastic chemistry. On April 2 last year, Lee In-gyu rattled the opposing goal after receiving a pass from Uhm Won-sang. In their most recent meeting, on June 23, this year, in a 2-2 tie against Jeju, Uhm Won-sang’s assist in the 38th minute of the second half was converted into a dramatic winner to secure the victory. Uhm Won-sang hasn’t scored in nearly two months, since May 29 against Incheon United. His last assist came on June 23 against Jeju. The team is in desperate need of attacking points. It will help the team’s offense to rebound.
