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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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The theme of the semi-finals of the Hana Bank Korea Cup (formerly FA Cup) in 2024 was 'revenge'. The key was whether he could meet the opponent who gave him pain again on the single-wood bridge and succeed in revenge. Jeju lost to Pohang in the semi-finals of the 2023 Korea Cup and suffered elimination. Like fate, I needed to overcome the trauma as I met Pohang in the semifinals of the same tournament in a year. Ulsan, which has won its second consecutive K-League 1 title, has recently won its fourth consecutive K-League title against Gwangju. Lee Jung-hyo's Gwangju, which has a poor objective power, has been hit repeatedly. It was necessary to shake off the jinx early at the start of the three consecutive games against Gwangju, including the Korea Cup. Jeju failed to take revenge in the first round of the '2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup semifinals', but Ulsan took revenge.
On the 21st, Pohang drew 2-2 in the first round of the semifinals of the '2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup' held at Jeju World Cup Stadium. Jeju's Kim Joo-gong scored the first goal in the fourth minute of the first half after receiving Yuri Jonathan's header pass. Kim Joo-gong suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Seoul in November last year and was absent for about nine months. Kim Joo-gong, who returned to the team last month, showed off his strong performance by quickly scoring the first goal in the fourth minute of his return match to Jeju. Three to four Pohang defenders were gathered in the penalty box, but after a simple ball touch, he cut the net with a clean shot. It is the first time in 11 months that Kim Joo-gong scored in a Jeju uniform since the match against Ulsan in July last year.
Jeju, which opened its doors, began to drive Pohang. In the 11th minute, he scored an extra goal. Nam Tae-hee, who caught the ball in the opponent's penalty box, floated a sharp cross to Yuri Jonathan running in front of the gate. Yuri Jonathan, who made a perfect break through the offside trap and headed for the gate, shook the net with an accurate header. Pohang, where Ahn Jae-joon, Kim In-sung, Baek Sung-dong, Hong Yoon-sang, Auverdan, Wandelson, and Shin Kwang-hoon, Jeon Min-gwang, Hwang In-jae, has all the main players, is in a state of bewilderment. Three minutes into the first half, Min-kwang scored an equalizer, narrowing the gap to one goal in the first half, but he failed to open Jeju's goal for 45 minutes in the second half. But Pohang's `Theatrical Instinct' was alive. In the 10th minute of extra time in the second half, Jung Jae-hee received Han Chan-hee's pass and scored a theater equalizer. 'Defending Champions' Pohang gained an advantage in advancing to the finals with a valuable draw away to Jeju. Pohang, which had been mired in a three-game losing streak in the league, also succeeded in rebounding in the atmosphere. On the other hand, Jeju, which lost to Pohang after a penalty shootout in the semifinals of the Korea Cup last year, missed the victory, putting a dark cloud on its advance to the finals for the first time in 20 years since 2004. He will be pressured to win the second round of the Korea Cup semifinal match at Pohang away on the 28th.
Ulsan, which was newly led by head coach Kim Pan-gon, beat Gwangju, led by head coach Lee Jung-hyo, 1-0 in the away game of the first round of the Korea Cup. In the 10th minute of the second half of the game at Gwangju Football Stadium, Yago took the lead by scoring his Ulsan debut goal without missing a pass miss from Gwangju's 'backup goalkeeper'. He was struck by Moon Min-seo in the 5th minute of extra time in the second half, but the score was canceled due to offside fouls. Ulsan coach Kim Pan-gon, who lost 1-2 at home in the 27th round of the K League 1 against Suwon FC on the 18th, paid off after expressing his willingness to 'advancing' by deploying a number of key players such as Rubik's Son, Um Won-sang, Lee Kyu-sung, Ko Seung-beom, and Lee Myung-jae, as well as Jung Woo-young, the 'national defensive midfielder'. He had an advantage as he played the second match of the Korea Cup at home on the 28th. Yago moved from Gangwon to Ulsan last month and scored his debut goal in five games including the cup. The winner of the Jeju-Pohang match and the Gwangju-Ulsan match will determine the winning team with a single-round final on Nov. 30.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
