By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Reigning K-League champion Pohang Steelers locks horns with Ulsan Tigers at Munsu World Cup Stadium today as the championship playoffs begin in earnest.
In the first round of games in the series, Seongnam Chunma also takes on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Sunday at Tancheon Sports Complex as third meets sixth from the final league standings.
The Tigers-Steelers contest, fourth against fifth, sees the team that scored the fewest number of goals in the league out of the top six play-off finalists take on one of the K-League's most decorated outfits.
In front of goal the Tigers managed just 39 and did not have a single player to break into double figures for league goals during the season.
The Steelers, K-League champion four times and runner-up another four, may have finished 10 points off the top two league positions occupied by Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul, but it has been over the course before.
It has a proven track record as a specialist in one-off games, having finished fifth in last year's league standings, but came through the playoffs to be crowned champion.
Both games between the pair during the league campaign were high-scoring encounters, 3-1 and 3-0, with each team claiming a win apiece.
But Pohang may take comfort from the fact that during its run to the play-off final last year it claimed the scalp of the two-time champion with a 2-1 win.
Tigers manager Kim Jung-nam believes his players can overcome the team that has become their nemesis.
``At the end of the season my players performed very well. They have a lot of confidence," he said.
``My team's mood is very good. Pohang was always our big obstacle to step forward, but the past is the past. This year I didn't feel any toughness. We are ready to advance to the next round."
Steelers coach Sergio Farias was more cautious, citing the abilities of each team to become eventual champion.
The Brazilian pointed to the one-off nature of the games as a warning that any of the teams can progress if they perform well on the day.
``Compared to the regular season, playoffs take only one match to advance to the next round. Though we have played against Ulsan Tigers very much, it is really hard.
``Both teams have almost the same ability. A tiny mistake will decide the team to go to the next round."
In the other game, Seongnam goes into its match against Jeonbuk as slight favorite by virtue of its higher league showing. The seven-time champion was also last year's beaten finalist, but in league encounters between the pair this season Jeonbuk claimed a confidence-boosting victory away to Seongnam.
Jeonbuk manager Choi Kang-hee reckons his team's end-of-season form could prove a catalyst to success.
``My team's mood is awesome," he said. "Seongnam is a very good team because they have many good players and lots of experience in the big matches. But I know the team's strengths and weaknesses.''
Seongnam coach Kim Hak-beom thinks his team may struggle, though admits to a pre-match boost by the return to form of striker Lee Dong-kook.
The winners of the weekend's two matches meet in a second playoff Wednesday, the victor of which advances to the semifinal against FC Seoul. The team emerging from that game faces Suwon Samsung Bluewings in a two-leg final Dec. 3 and 7.