Pohang Steelers will take on a familiar foe in their bid for a record-setting sixth title at the Korea Cup football tournament this week.
Pohang will face Jeju United in the two-legged semifinals of the biggest national tournament for the second consecutive year. The first leg is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo on the southern island of Jeju. Pohang will host the second leg at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 28.
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, head coaches for clubs competing in the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament pose for photos before the draw at Korea Football Association House in Seoul. From left: Lee Jung-hyo of Gwangju FC, Kim Hak-bum of Jeju United, Park Tae-ha of Pohang Steelers and Kim Pan-gon of Ulsan HD FC. (Yonhap)
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, head coaches for clubs competing in the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament pose for photos before the draw at Korea Football Association House in Seoul. From left: Lee Jung-hyo of Gwangju FC, Kim Ha
k-bum of Jeju United, Park Tae-ha of Pohang Steelers and Kim Pan-gon of Ulsan HD FC. (Yonhap)
These two K League 1 clubs clashed in the one-legged semifinals last year. Pohang prevailed 4-3 on penalties after the teams were knotted at 1-1 following 120 minutes of action.
Pohang then defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the final for their fifth Korea Cup title, which tied them with Jeonbuk and Suwon Samsung Bluewings for most in the tournament’s history. Jeonbuk and Suwon are both long out of this year’s tournament.
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Pohang Steelers head coach Park Tae-ha (R) participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Pohang Steelers head coach Park Tae-ha (R) participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jeju have never won the Korea Cup, a tournament formerly
called the FA Cup, and they haven’t even reached the final since 2004.
Pohang and Jeju have met three times during this K League 1 season, with each picking up a win, a draw and a loss.
The other semifinal matchup pits Ulsan HD FC against Gwangju FC. Their first leg is 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. Ulsan will host the second leg at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 in Ulsan, about 300 kilometers southeast of the capital.
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Jeju United head coach Kim Hak-bum (L) participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Jeju United head coach Kim Hak-bum (L) participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Gwangju have defeated Ulsan in both of their meetings so far this K League 1 season. They are one of just two tea
ms that Ulsan have not beaten in 2024.
Gwangju head coach Lee Jung-hyo played for current Ulsan bench boss Kim Pan-gon when they were both with Busan IPark from 2005 to 2007.
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Ulsan HD FC head coach Kim Pan-gon participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2024, Ulsan HD FC head coach Kim Pan-gon participates in the draw for the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at the Korea Football Association House in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Ulsan’s only Korea Cup title came in 2017. Gwangju have not won the tournament and this is their first appearance in the semifinals.
The one-legged final will be Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
