Two teams looking to regain momentum face off. Ulsan Hyundai and Gangwon FC are both aiming for consecutive wins.
■ Match of the round: Two teams aiming for consecutive wins 'Ulsan vs. Gangwon'
In Round 9 of K League 1, Ulsan (3rd, 14 points) and Gangwon (8th, 10 points), who both secured victories in the last round, will meet. Both teams are expected to give their all to continue their winning streak.
The home team Ulsan has struggled with four consecutive winless games, but they managed to secure a valuable victory against Daegu in the last round, assisted by a decisive goal from Kang Sang-woo. The side defender Kang Sang-woo freely moved between offense and defense, scoring his first and decisive goal of the season on that day, while Lee Chung-yong, who was substituted in the second half, assisted Kang Sang-woo's goal, leading Ulsan's aggressive momentum. Ulsan, having succeeded in turning the tide, aims for victory against Gangwon to compete again for the top rankings. Ulsan has a significant advantage in their head-to-head record against Gangwon, boasting 29 wins, 5 draws, and 4 losses, and they are confident after leading last season's encounters with 3 wins and 1 loss.
The away team Gangwon also faced difficulties with three consecutive losses but smiled again with a 1-0 victory against Gwangju in the last round. That day, Gangwon's ball possession was only about 30%, but they outperformed Gwangju in offense. Gangwon consistently troubled the opponent's defense with strong pressing led by Lee Sang-heon and Choi Byung-chan, recording more than double the number of shots, with a total of 12. As a result, with Choi Byung-chan's goal and relentless pressure from the back, they secured valuable 3 points. There are expectations as to whether Gangwon can showcase their unique counter-attacking football against Ulsan, who is strong in pressing.
The season's first matchup between Ulsan and Gangwon, who are both aiming for consecutive wins, will be held on the 19th at 2 p.m. at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.
▷ Choi Cheol-woo Commissioner (Ulsan)
Ulsan failed to record victories in the previous four games due to injuries and a decline in the condition of key players. Fortunately, they successfully turned the tide against Daegu in the last round. The stability of their tactics is being established through continuous rotation of side defenders, and Ulsan is gradually regaining its strong form in other positions. However, the ongoing lack of scoring power from forwards has been a regrettable issue as it continues to hinder results in each game. If the scoring ability of the forwards improves, they will surely be able to challenge for consecutive wins through high-scoring games.
▷ Hyun Young-min Commissioner (Gangwon)
Expectations are high as Gangwon, who broke their three-game losing streak and secured a win in the last round, aims to continue their momentum through consecutive wins. The tailored tactics that strategist Gangwon's head coach Jeong Kyung-ho will deploy against Ulsan are a key point to watch.
■ Team of the round: 'Jeju' aiming for mid-table entry
Jeju (10th, 8 points) drew 1-1 with Jeonbuk in the last round, allowing a late equalizer just before full time, which was a disappointing result. This season, Jeju has achieved 2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses, and they need 3 points to rebound into the mid-table.
Jeju's strength lies in their strong midfield. 'Middle Eastern Messi' Nam Tae-hee, who joined through the summer transfer window last season, has participated in every game this season, contributing 2 assists. Yoon In-soo, who led Gangwon to a runner-up finish last season, scored 2 goals immediately after transferring to Jeju, signaling a strong start. Additionally, Lee Chang-min, who has been starting for four consecutive games since being released from military service, has joined to form a formidable midfield duo.
However, Jeju has shown weaknesses in their attacking power at critical moments, currently sitting at 10th in K League 1 scoring (7 goals). Recently, they parted ways with their top scorer Lee Geon-hee, who had the most attacking points (2 goals and 1 assist) in the team, and if foreign players like new signing Denilson, Evandro, and Yoon Jonathan, along with Park Dong-jin, can step up, Jeju can overcome their goal drought.
Meanwhile, Jeju will face Pohang (7th, 12 points) in Round 9. The head-to-head record in the last 10 matches is tightly contested at 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses for both teams, and last season's encounters also ended with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss each. The team that can seize the first victory of the season's matchup will be confirmed on the 20th at 4:30 p.m. at Jeju World Cup Stadium.
▷ Choi Jae-soo Commissioner (Jeju)
Jeju's young players have been showing good performances lately. Kim Jun-ha and Choi Byeong-wook are standing out with their excellent speed and high activity on the front line, and with Lee Chang-min joining the midfield, organic play is expected. If the condition of the attacking line, including new signing Denilson, Evandro, Yoon Jonathan, and Park Dong-jin, is well managed, good performances in offense are anticipated. However, Jeju has frequently seen mistakes from their central defenders due to a sharp decline in concentration after the 80th minute, resulting in conceding goals, and minimizing this will be key to Jeju's ranking rebound.
■ Player of the round: 'Kang Sang-yoon', the key to Jeonbuk's revival
Jeonbuk (6th, 12 points) drew 1-1 with Jeju in the last round, extending their unbeaten streak to four games (2 wins and 2 draws). In this round, Jeonbuk will rely on midfielder Kang Sang-yoon, who has been playing a key role in the midfield.
Kang Sang-yoon, a product of Jeonbuk's youth system, made his K League debut through a semi-professional contract in 2022, gaining professional experience by participating in 15 games in his debut season. He was later loaned to Busan in 2023 and Suwon FC in 2024, contributing to their runner-up finish in K League 2 and qualification for the Final A at Suwon FC. After finishing his two-year loan, Kang Sang-yoon returned to Jeonbuk, where he now leads the midfield with a more mature playing style.
Kang Sang-yoon's strength lies in his high activity level, making him a versatile resource who can be utilized as both a defensive and attacking midfielder. Recently, with Lee Young-jae's injury, he stepped up in the match, showcasing sharp play through team link-ups and his unique off-the-ball movements. Jeonbuk will also look to challenge for their fifth consecutive unbeaten game with Kang Sang-yoon at the forefront in this round.
Meanwhile, Jeonbuk's opponent for this round is Daegu. Last season, Daegu slightly outperformed Jeonbuk with 2 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their head-to-head encounters, but they are currently in turmoil, having recorded six consecutive losses, leading to Head Coach Park Chang-hyun's resignation. The first matchup of the season between Jeonbuk and Daegu will take place on the 20th at 4:30 p.m. at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
▷ Jeong Kyung-goo Commissioner (Jeonbuk)
Kang Sang-yoon was the main contributor to Jeonbuk's victory against Daejeon in Round 7, and his recent performances have been impressive. His situational judgment about where to progress with the ball is exceptional. Kang Sang-yoon is a player with high activity level who excels at finding positions where he can receive the ball. While it is uncertain what tactics Jeonbuk will employ, Kang Sang-yoon currently shows the best form in midfield. Though his physique may be somewhat small, his stamina is not an issue, and if he builds strength in the future, he could grow into a key player leading Jeonbuk's midfield.
< K League 1 2025 Round 9 match schedule >
Ulsan: Gangwon [April 19 (Sat) 2 p.m. Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Gimcheon: Daejeon [April 19 (Sat) 4:30 p.m. Gimcheon Sports Complex / IB Sports, Coupang Play]
Anyang: Suwon FC [April 19 (Sat) 4:30 p.m. Anyang Sports Complex / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Seoul: Gwangju [April 19 (Sat) 7 p.m. Seoul World Cup Stadium / Sky Sports, Coupang Play]
Jeju: Pohang [April 20 (Sun) 4:30 p.m. Jeju World Cup Stadium / IB Sports, Coupang Play]
Jeonbuk: Daegu [April 20 (Sun) 4:30 p.m. Jeonju World Cup Stadium
[Photo] Provided by the Korea Professional Football Association.
[OSEN]