Will Gwangju FC make history?
Gwangju will attempt to set a new record for most points in a season (in the top flight) when they host FC Seoul in the 30th round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023 at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Gwangju currently sits in third place with 45 points from 12 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses. Despite being one of the lowest-paid teams in the K League 1, they have made the leap to the top and are shaking up the league this season. Coach Lee Jung-hyo and his players’ stock has been rising. Key midfielder Lee Soon-min was selected to the national team and appeared as a substitute in both A matches in September. Other players have been called up to the Asian Games (Jung Ho-yeon) and Olympic teams (Heo Yul and Um Ji Sung).
Their recent form has been frightening. With four wins and five draws in nine games, the team has forgotten how to lose. Since losing to Ulsan Hyundai on July 2, they haven’t lost in over two months. In the second half of the season, their performance has improved and they’ve climbed higher than expected. In the last round, they traveled to Ulsan, a team with an overwhelming lead, and pulled off an upset, winning 2-0 away. No matter what team they faced, they were able to keep their colors, and they’ve settled in perfectly. At this rate, they should make it to Final A.
Gwangju will be looking to set a new club record for most points in a single season against Seoul. Gwangju secured 47 points in 2016. That’s the most points in a season in team history. If they beat Seoul and add three more points, they will make history with 48 points. Having already broken the record for the most wins in a season with 12, Gwangju will have extra motivation heading into the game against Seoul.
Under this coaching regime, Gwangju has been setting new records on a forgettable basis. Last year, they won the K League 2 title with 86 points and earned direct promotion. 바카라사이트 They’re making waves in the top flight as well.
The fact that their opponent is Seoul is also significant for Gwangju. Seoul is in fourth place behind Gwangju with 43 points. If Gwangju wins, the gap between the two teams will be five points. With three games left in the regular round, the team could be in a position to secure a spot in the Final A.
Gwangju has played Seoul twice this season, losing both times. In the first meeting in March, the two teams had an emotional clash after Lee’s provocative comments. For the proud coach, he can’t wait to face Seoul again. Outside of the game, it’s an interesting matchup.
Meanwhile, first-place Ulsan (61 points) hosts eighth-place Daejeon Hana Citizen (37 points) at home on the 16th. The second-place Pohang Steelers (53 points) travel to 10th-place Suwon FC (29 points). Currently, Ulsan and Pohang are separated by eight points. If Ulsan loses to Daejeon and Pohang catches Suwon FC, the gap between the two teams will narrow to five points. This could ignite a late-season title race.