Professional soccer’s K League 1 is back in action this weekend. Only four games to go before the final round. During this time, teams have been hit by the aftermath of the Hangzhou Asian Games (AG). On the other hand, there are teams that don’t have any players available. One of them is Suwon Samsung.
Suwon is again in 12th place (W5 D7 L17 D22) as of the 16th. They are seven points behind 10th-place Suwon FC (8W, 5D, 17L, 29P) and two points behind 11th-place Gangwon FC (4W, 12D, 14L, 21P). To stay out of the relegation playoffs (PO), they need to overtake ninth-place Jeju (W8 D13 L35), but closing the 13-point gap in the remaining nine games is unrealistic. This is why Suwon head coach Kim Byung-soo has repeatedly said during the season, “We just have to do our best in every game.”온라인카지노
Suwon’s first opponent after the break is seventh-ranked Daegu FC (10W, 11D, 9L, 41 points). Suwon will host Daegu in the 30th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Suwon World Cup Stadium. The head-to-head record this season is one draw and one loss.
There is some good news for Suwon. The 33rd round of the K League 1 overlaps with the Hangzhou AG period, and each team faces the variable of power leakage. Suwon, however, is an exception. Not a single player was called up to the Hangzhou AG squad led by head coach Hwang Sun-hong. Only Lee Ki-je (national team) and Kim Joo-chan (Olympic team) were called up to the national team during the A-Match.
The first opponent, Daegu, will be without their main defender Hwang Jae-won. Other first-team players such as Sejingya (rib injury), Oh Seung-hoon (neck injury), and Cho Jin-woo (accumulated cautions) are likely to be absent.
Their remaining opponents in the final round are in similar situations. Both Incheon United and Pohang Steelers will be without AG’s starting lineup. Only the Daejeon Hana Citizens have less power leaks like Suwon.
All eyes will be on Suwon to see if they can capitalize on this advantage and turn the tide against Hangzhou AG.
Meanwhile, at 2 p.m. on the same day at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, fourth-ranked FC Seoul (11 points, 10 draws, 8 losses, 43 points) will face third-ranked Gwangju FC (12 points, 9 draws, 8 losses, 45 points). Seoul is 1-1-1 under acting head coach Kim Jin-gyu, while Gwangju is unbeaten in its last nine matches (4 wins, 5 draws). The KFA has selected the match as the Match of the Round.