‘Park Tae-ha’ First Departure from Pohang… Jeonbuk and ACL Round of 16 First Leg on the 14th

Ulsan's first official match of the new year will be a home game against Banfore Gohu on the 15th.

The K-League 1 Pohang Steelers, a professional soccer team under the new leadership of coach Park Tae-ha, will make their first voyage to the round of 16 of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) against Jeonbuk Hyundai.

Pohang will play an away game against Jeonbuk in the first leg of the 2023-2024 ACL round of 16 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on the 14th.

The two teams will meet again three months after meeting in the final of the 2023 Hana One Q Korea Football Association Cup (FA Cup) held on November 4 last year and play the first official match of the 2024 season. 온라인카지노

In last year's FA Cup, Pohang, which celebrated its 50th anniversary, defeated Jeonbuk 4-2 and won its fifth championship trophy, 10 years after winning the tournament in 2013.

Pohang and Jeonbuk will meet again in the ACL round of 16 to check the performance of their training camp ahead of the 2024 K-League 1 season, which opens on March 1.

Above all, Pohang underwent a major change by sending coach Kim Ki-dong, who had led the team since 2019, to FC Seoul in December of last year and recruiting 'Pohang one-club man legend' coach Tae-ha Park as the new head coach.

Coach Park, who made his professional debut in Pohang in 1991, played as an active player until 2001, then coached in Pohang from 2005 to 2007, and returned to Pohang as head coach after 17 years.

Although he has served as coach of FC Seoul and head coach of a Chinese professional team, this is his first time as head coach of the K League.

Coach Park, who has returned to his 'home team', is busy leading the ever-changing squad and preparing for his debut.

Pohang saw major changes throughout its offense and defense with the transfer of key players including Ha Chang-rae (Nagoya) and Grant (Tianjin), who were the team's starting center backs last season, as well as Kim Seung-dae (Daejeon), Shim Sang-min (Ulsan), and Jeka (Shandong).

Coach Park appointed Wandelsson as captain, reorganized the team, and prepared for the match against Jeonbuk.

As Jeonbuk finished the season in 4th place in K-League 1 last year and finished the season with no ties, they are resolutely determined to wake up the ‘sleeping Jeon Ju-seong’ from the first leg of this ACL round of 16.

Jeonbuk, celebrating its 30th anniversary, set its sights on winning three crowns this season: K League 1, FA Cup, and ACL.

In particular, as we are playing our first official match this season against Pohang, who gave away the trophy in last year's FA Cup final, we are determined to win and turn on the green light to achieve our goal.

Jeonbuk improved its sense of real-life performance through five practice games during winter training in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Newly recruited Lee Young-jae, Lee Jae-ik, and Thiago are also blending well into the team, raising expectations.

The second leg of the ACL round of 16 between Pohang and Jeonbuk will be played at the Pohang Steel Yard at 6 p.m. on the 20th.

Meanwhile, Ulsan, who has won two consecutive K-League 1 games, will play a home game in the first leg of the ACL round of 16 against Banforet Kofu (Japan) at Munsu Stadium in Ulsan at 7 p.m. on the 15th.

Ulsan had its best season last year, winning its second consecutive K-League title and its fourth overall championship.

The end of the season was delayed due to the final match of the ACL group stage against Kawasaki Frontale on December 12 last year, and after participating in winter training in Japan without sufficient rest, they returned to Korea on the 4th and immediately began preparing for the ACL round of 16.

In particular, it is unfortunate that key defensive lines such as Kim Young-kwon and Seol Young-woo were unable to join Jeonhoon due to being selected for the Asian Cup, and that Kim Tae-hwan (Jeonbuk) and Jeong Seung-hyeon (Al Wasl) transferred and were unable to properly refine their defensive tactics during Jeonhun.

Ulsan is determined to kick off this season through the ACL round of 16 as it has strengthened its power with transfers recognized for their skills such as Kelvin, Mateus (Brazil), Kim Min-woo, Shim Sang-min, Ko Seung-beom, and Hwang Seok-ho.

At 6 p.m. on the 21st, the team will play the second away game against Banfore Kofu at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.