Jeju United will look to overcome typhoon conditions to secure all three points against Suwon FC.
Jeju will host Suwon FC in the 26th round of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 on Saturday, August 12 at 8 p.m. at Jeju World Cup Stadium. Jeju is currently ninth in the league with eight wins, seven draws and 10 losses for 31 points. They have slowly slipped out of the race for the top spot as they have gone without a win in their last 10 matches (4 draws and 6 losses). However, they still have a chance. The gap to the top is not that big. If the team can increase the gap between them and 10th-place Suwon FC (23 points) and continue to accumulate points, they can hope for a higher position.
Ahead of this crucial matchup, there was an unexpected twist. The FA Cup quarterfinal against Pohang Steelers was scheduled for Wednesday, August 9 at Anbang, but was canceled due to the impact of Typhoon Kanun. The sudden rescheduling could have caused confusion, but the Jeju squad was unfazed. They moved from the stadium to the clubhouse and held alternative training sessions. The goal was to improve their goal scoring, which is something Jeju must work on.
In 25 league games this season, Jeju has attempted 293 shots (6th in the league), converting 118 of them into shots on target (2nd in the league). Shots from inside the penalty box are also second in the league (186). Chance-making is unquestionable. But finishing is a problem. Their total of 33 goals is fifth in the league, but they’ve only scored 10 goals in their last 10 games while going winless. The league’s highest number of offsides (50) also hinders Jeju’s ability to make penetrating passes in attacking areas.
As a result, Jeju focused on goal determination in their substitute training session today. In addition to focusing on goal determination, the team is also trying to diversify its attacking routes through active switching plays and organic passing lines. The team is also making flexible tactical changes. The team used a 4-4-2 formation against Gangwon in the 25th round and a 4-5-1 in the FA Cup quarterfinals against Pohang, and the team has been working on strategies to exploit opponents’ defenses during the break. 꽁머니지급
Suwon FC has conceded the most goals in the league this season (51). In their most recent meeting, on Sunday, May 14, Jeju won 5-0 away at Suwon FC by causing their opponents defensive anxiety, with Seo Jin-soo leading the way with two goals and an assist to extend Jeju’s winning streak to five games. The team will need to boldly knock on the opponent’s goal in this match as well. Suwon FC, on the other hand, will be under increasing pressure as their signature striker Ras (9 goals, 5 assists) has been out of form recently.
Coach Nam Ki-il said, “The typhoon caused the FA Cup quarterfinals to be canceled, but we are not shaken and are focusing on the next game. We are creating a lot of chances but not finishing them with goals is our biggest challenge. We’re pressing and staying in the opponent’s half, but there is no finality in soccer. In the end, it is a sport that requires a goal to win. I hope Suwon FC will be the stage where Jeju’s problems are solved.”