Pohang, Busan to Meet for Cup Title Wednesday
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Pohang Steelers and Busan I'Park will square off for the K-League Cup title in the second leg of the final on Wednesday night in Pohang.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in Game 1 in Busan two weeks ago, to set up the winner-take-all match.
Both teams have waited a long time for a shot at the league cup.
The Steelers are looking for their first championship since 1993 while Busan hasn't reached the final since 1999 and hasn't won it since they grabbed two straight titles in 1997 and 1998.
If the game ends up in another tie in regulation, the game will go straight to a penalty shootout to determine who will receive the 100 million won ($82,000) champions' prize.
Since Brazilian boss Sergio Ricardo de Paiva Farias took over in 2005, the Steelers have seen a return to their glory days, during which they won three league titles, in 1986, 1988 and 1992.
The Steelers are looking to make it three championships in three years after topping the K-League in 2007 and hoisting the FA Cup in 2008.
Star player-turned Busan manager Hwang Sun-hong led his side to victories over league powerhouses Seongnam Chunma and Ulsan Tigers and on the way to the finals.
Busan has a 46-40-42 lead in their head-to-head series all time, but Pohang has posted a better record in their last five meetings ― three wins and two draws.
The Steelers, currently ranked third, five points off the lead in the K-League standings, have been on the rise of late.
They are unbeaten in their last five games ― three in the league and two in the league cup ― and have not lost in their last 12 league matches, posting eight wins and four draws.
In Sunday's road game against Jeju United, they were explosive enough to score a league-record eight goals in an 8-1 trouncing, which indicates they are firing on all cylinders entering Wednesday's match.
Further tilting the game in favor of Pohang is their record at home this season ― they have yet to suffer a loss at the Steel Yard in 12 matches.
Pohang, which has also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, boasts one of the best lineups in the league.
Despite having few star players, the team has performed consistently, using Farias' various strategies and a deep talent pool.
While the Steelers are a team on the rise, Busan has been headed in the opposite direction. Ranked No. 14 in the league table, Busan has struggled to find wins, recording two losses and as many ties in their last four, to put them firmly into the role of underdog.
Hwang has failed in four attempts to beat his former team, recording two defeats and two draws against Pohang.
However, his outfit has performed consistently in the cup competition, and a squad of determined young players will be looking to pull off an upset.