Pohang Steelers extended their unbeaten streak to eight games with a win over Incheon United.
Pohang earned a 2-0 victory over Incheon in the 29th round of the Hana One Q K League 2023 at the Incheon Football Stadium on February 2.
Pohang remained second in the league with 14 wins, 11 draws and four losses (53 points). Since the ‘East Coast Derby’ against Ulsan Hyundai in July, they have won four and drawn four in eight matches.
Incheon, on the other hand, suffered a loss that put the brakes on their Final A campaign. They sit in seventh place with 10 points from 10 games, nine draws and a three-match unbeaten streak.
Pohang started with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Zeca, Park Hyung-woo, Go Young-joon, Kim Seung-dae, Kim Jun-ho, Oberdan, Wandelsson, Grant, Ha Chang-rae, Park Seung-wook, and Hwang In-jae.
Incheon lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. Gerso, Mugosa, Kang Yoon-koo, Kim Do-hyuk, Moon Ji-hwan, Lee Myung-joo, Jung Dong-yoon, Delbridge, Kim Dong-min, Oh Ban-seok, and Kim Dong-hyun.
The two teams were evenly matched and the first half ended 0-0.
At the start of the second half, Pohang made the first change. They took off Kim Jun-ho and Park Hyung-woo and brought on Kim Jong-woo and Kim In-sung. Incheon took off Moon Ji-hwan and brought on Hernandez in the 13th minute of the second half to strengthen their attack.
Pohang broke the long silence. In the 16th minute of the second half, Kim Seung-dae was tripped by the opposing goalkeeper while receiving a pass from 토토 Zeca. The referee awarded a penalty kick, and Zeca stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly slotted it into the bottom left corner to take the lead.
Incheon took advantage of set pieces and counterattacks. In the 22nd minute, Delbridge headed in a cross from a corner kick, but it went wide of the post.
Both teams pulled out their substitutes once again. In the 33rd minute, Incheon brought on Chun Sung-hoon and Pohang brought on Lee Ho-jae.
It was Pohang’s turn to add another goal. In the 38th minute, Ha Chang-rae’s header from a corner kick hit Cheon Sung-hoon’s arm. After reading the on-field monitor, the referee awarded a penalty kick. Wandelsson stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly rattled the net.
Nine minutes of extra time were awarded, but Incheon failed to capitalize and Pohang ended the match with a clean sheet.
