Undefeated Seongnam, Jeonbuk to face each other this weekend

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ forward Lee Dong-gook, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during his team’s K-League Classic football match against the Pohang Steelers at Pohang Steel Yard, April 10. No. 3 Jeonbuk will have a match against No. 2 Seongnam FC at their home, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, on Saturday. / Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

Seongnam FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, two K-League Classic clubs, that have maintained unbeaten record since the start of the new football season on March 12, will clash at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on Saturday.

Seongnam placed second with 11 points (three wins and two ties) following FC Seoul and the defending champion Jeonbuk in third place with nine points (two wins and three ties).

As the two clubs seek to stay ahead in the standings, the match is important to both teams.

Thanks to Tiago Alves and Hwang Eui-jo who have had four and two goals respectively, Seongnam led the league until they had two consecutive ties against middle-ranked Suwon FC and the Jeonnam Dragons.

The Jeonbuk club looks out of shape so far, as the defending champion club only had five goals in five games, the second least number of goals among the 12 K-League Classic clubs. Veteran forward Lee Dong-gook who has scored in the last three games will lead the team.

As the two clubs have allowed the fewest number of goals in league play this season with three, the first goal would matter most to decide the winner of the match.

No. 1 FC Seoul to take on Suwon FC

The FC Seoul, who have been at the top of the standings with 12 points (four wins and one loss), will take on the No. 6 Suwon FC at their home Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday.

It is the first time that the two clubs will have played each other as Suwon FC earned a promotion from the second-tier K-League Challenge for this season.

It remains to be seen whether FC Seoul, armed with a strong offensive line, including Park Chu-young (three goals) and Brazilian Carlos Adriano (four goals), can pierce the shield of Suwon as Seoul has made 11 goals during the last five games.

Two clubs based in North Gyeongsang Province will compete at Sangju Civic Stadium for the first time in this season.

No. 10 Sangju Sangmu FC (four points, one win, one tie and three losses), that also earned a promotion from the K-League Challenge this season, will play against No. 7 Pohang Steelers (six points, one win, three and one loss).

The cellar-dweller Incheon United FC (one point, one tie and four losses) will have a match against No. 8 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (six points, one win, three ties and one loss) at their home, Incheon Football Stadium, on Saturday as well.

Honam derby on Sunday

At Gwangyang Football Stadium in South Jeolla Province, the Honam (referring to the southwestern region) derby between the Jeonnam Dragons and the Gwangju FC will take place on Sunday.

Also dubbed “the yellow derby” because to the two teams wear yellow in their uniforms, it remains to be seen whether No. 11 Jeonnam (three points, three draws and two losses) or Gwangju (four points, one win, one draw and three losses) can rise like a phoenix after trampling each other.

No. 4 Ulsan Hyundai FC (eight points, two wins, two ties and one loss) will host No. 5 Jeju United FC (seven points, two wins, one tie and two losses) at their home, Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, on Sunday.