Defending champions Pohang Steelers will battle their regional rivals Ulsan HD FC for the title at the nation’s largest football tournament.
Pohang advanced to the final of the Korea Cup after beating Jeju United 2-1 in the second leg of the semifinals at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, some 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Pohang secured a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg last week and pulled off another bit of late drama in the second leg, as substitute Eo Jeong-won scored the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute.
Eo Jeong-won of Pohang Steelers celebrates after scoring against Jeju United during the second leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang on Aug. 28, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Eo Jeong-won of Pohang Steelers celebrates after scoring against Jeju United during the second leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Pohang Steel Yard in the so
utheastern city of Pohang on Aug. 28, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier Wednesday, Ulsan knocked off Gwangju FC with a 3-2 aggregate win in the semifinals, after playing them to a 2-2 draw in the second leg at home, Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of the capital. Ulsan had prevailed 1-0 in the opening leg a week ago.
Pohang will go for their second straight title and a record sixth title overall. Pohang are also the last team to win consecutive Korea Cup titles, having done so in 2012 and 2013.
An Jae-joon of Pohang Steelers (2nd from L) celebrates after scoring against Jeju United during the second leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang on Aug. 28, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
An Jae-joon of Pohang Steelers (2nd from L) celebrates after scoring against Jeju United duri
ng the second leg of the semifinals of the Korea Cup football tournament at Pohang Steel Yard in the southeastern city of Pohang on Aug. 28, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Ulsan will go for their second Korea Cup title, following their only victory in 2017. In their most recent trip to the final, Ulsan lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2020.
Pohang is located some 50 kilometers north of Ulsan, and their rivalry in the K League has been dubbed “East Coast Derby.”
The one-and-done final is Nov. 30 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
An Jae-joon put Pohang on the board just five minutes into the match, before Jeju drew level with a goal by Reis in the 23rd minute.
Matheus Sales of Ulsan HD FC celebrates after scoring against Gwangju FC during the second leg of the Korea Cup football tournament at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan on Aug. 28, 2024. (Yonhap)
Matheus Sales of Ulsan HD FC celebrates after scoring against Gwangju FC d
uring the second leg of the Korea Cup football tournament at Munsu Football Stadium in the southeastern city of Ulsan on Aug. 28, 2024. (Yonhap)
The match seemed destined for an extra session before Eo put Pohang up for good in late minutes.
Heo Yong-jun tried to volley home a Jeong Jae-hee cross but only got a piece of the ball. Jeju goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun tried to make a diving grab, but the ball slipped out of his hand as he landed on the pitch. Eo, who had come off the bench only a minute earlier, jumped into the fray and poked the loose ball home to seal the 2-1 win.
For Ulsan, Lim Jong-eun opened the scoring in the 13th minute by heading home a cross by Lee Myung-jae.
Substitute Oh Hu-seong netted the equalizer for Gwangju two minutes after the restart, beating goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo with a midrange strike.
But Ulsan reclaimed their lead only seven minutes later, with Matheus Sales converting a feed from Joo Min-kyu.
Oh scored his second goal of the match in the 89th minute. Gwangju needed anoth
er goal to pull into a 3-3 tie in the aggregate score and force extra time, but Ulsan kept the door shut on their opponent.
Source: Yonhap News Agency