Professional soccer’s K League 1 relegation zone, Gangwon FC and Suwon Samsung will face off in a cliffhanger clash in a bid to stay out of the bottom spot.
Gangwon and Suwon will meet in the 24th round of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at 7:30 p.m. on April 22 at Gangneung Sports Complex.
Gangwon is in 11th place with just two wins (D10, L11, P16) in 23 matches, the fewest wins among the 12 teams. Suwon is in 12th place with three wins, six draws and 14 losses (15 points).
The two teams are separated by one point, so the outcome of this matchup could change the standings.
The moods of the two teams are opposite. Gangwon is winless in 13 matches with six draws and seven defeats since their last away match against Jeonbuk Hyundai on April 29 (1-0 win).
Gangwon, who finished in Split A last season, has been struggling with a dull spear since the start of this season, bouncing around the bottom half of the table. As a result, Kangwon sacked Choi Yong-soo and appointed Yoon Jung-hwan during the A-Match in June.
However, the coaching change has yet to pay off. After a 1-1 draw in his debut against Suwon FC, Yoon hasn’t won a game in his last four matches, drawing three and losing one. If the winless streak continues, it’s hard to see Gangwon rebounding at the end of the season.
Kangwon will need to improve their offense to get back on track. They have scored just 14 goals so far, less than a goal per game. In response, Gangwon has brought in foreign players like Wellington and Gabriel to bolster their front line.
Suwon may be in last place, but they’ve been in good spirits lately. Suwon turned the tide with a 3-1 win over leaders Ulsan Hyundai on Nov. 15, earning three points in 10 games.
Coach Kim Byung-soo, who took over midseason, has encouraged the team by giving them confidence, even as they went nine games without a win. He also brought in new players for each position, looking for a second-half rebound. 먹튀검증
Kim’s choices are paying off. Both Kazuki in the midfield and Kim Joo-won in defense have quickly integrated into the team and injected new energy.
Kazuki has earned the trust of his teammates with his calm play and intermittent flashes of creativity. Kim Joo-won has already taken on a leadership role, wearing the captain’s armband against Ulsan.
After the match between Gangwon and Suwon, there will be a two-week break in K League 1. The team needs to get out of last place in order to have two weeks to rebuild in a good mood.
