The Korea Cup (FA Cup) is a competition that determines the king of Korean soccer by covering professionals and amateurs. The best attraction is also low cost and high efficiency. Teams participating in the Asian Champions League (ACL) will participate in the round of 16. In addition, the winning team will receive 'International Ticket' to stand on the Asian stage.
Eight teams will be back on the stage. Six teams survived in K League 1, including Ulsan HD, Pohang Steelers, FC Seoul, Jeju United, Gwangju FC, and Incheon United. In the K League 2, two teams, Gimpo FC and Seongnam FC, survived and are aiming for another upset. The quarterfinals of the "2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup" will kick off at 7 p.m. on the 17th.
The most eye-catching match is the meeting between Pohang and Seoul, where a new rivalry has been formed. Defending champion Pohang brings Seoul to Pohang Steelyard. It's Kim Gi-dong The B. Coach Kim Ki-dong, who is a "Pohang Legend", led Pohang until last year and changed his words to the head coach of Seoul this season. Pohang was expected to have a strong aftermath, but another 'Port Legend' coach Park Tae-ha successfully normalized the team. Pohang is currently in third place (41 points) in the K League 1 as it competes for the top spot. Seoul, on the other hand, was ranked sixth (30 points).
In two meetings this season, Pohang is leading with one win and one draw. Pohang won 4-2 in away games in Seoul on April 13, followed by a 2-2 draw at home on May 25. However, Seoul has escaped from the swamp of recession by recording 4 wins and 2 losses with Lingard in the last six games. Both teams swallowed their disappointment with a 'theatrical loss' in the K-League last weekend. Pohang lost 1-2 to Jeju, losing six consecutive games (3 wins and 3 draws), and Seoul was caught 0-1 by Ulsan.
Ulsan, where head coach Hong Myung-bo left for the A national team, will face Incheon at Munsu Football Stadium. Coincidentally, head coach Cho Sung-hwan also got off the train in Incheon. Cho was appointed as manager of K League 2 Busan I'Park. Both teams will play in the quarterfinals as acting coaches.
Ulsan put out the urgent fire with Joo Min-kyu's theater winning goal just before the end of the match against Seoul, which was the first game of the acting system on the 13th. Incheon also beat Gwangju 2-0 in an away game on the 14th to escape from winless games (5 draws and 4 losses) for nine consecutive games. Ulsan has stabilized the midfield by recruiting national midfielder Jung Woo-young, and Yago has also completed the registration process, allowing him to play against Incheon. Incheon also hit Bae Soo-jin, saying, "I can't back down at the Korea Cup." Ulsan ranks second (42 points) and Incheon ninth (25 points) in the K League 1. The two teams drew 3-3 and 1-1, respectively, in two meetings this season.
The unique fun of the Korea Cup is the rebellion of the lower league team. The last time a second-division team reached the semifinals was in 2021 with the Jeonnam Dragons. Jeonnam made headlines by lifting the trophy for the first time as a second-division team at the time. Gimpo and Seongnam will try to advance to the semifinals of the K League 2 for the first time in three years.
Gimpo will clash with Jeju at home and Seongnam with Gwangju at away. Gimpo is determined to catch Jeju Island with the momentum of catching Jeonbuk Hyundai 1-0 in the quarterfinals. Jeju, with its pride in the first division, has been drawing the semifinals in its head for the second consecutive year.
Seongnam overpowered Chungcheongbuk-do Cheongju, the same second wife, in the round of 16, but in the third round before that, it showed off its potential by overpowering Suwon FC 1-0 in the first part. On the other hand, Gwangju is aiming for the semifinals, the highest record in the club's history. Only four teams laugh in the quarterfinals.
