K League 1, a professional football league with 12 teams, can be demoted up to three teams, and the final 11th place is the 2nd place in the K League 2 and the 10th place is the 3rd to 5th place in the 2nd place.
For Suwon, a famous family of tradition, this 2023 season is a nightmare. After the opening, there was no win in 10 games (2 draws and 8 losses), but it struggled enough to report the first win in the 11th round against Incheon United last May. Suwon appointed Kim Byeong-soo as the new head coach in the same month, but there was hardly a rebound. Suwon did not get out of 12th place from early April to mid-July. Then, on the 15th of last month, they won Ulsan Hyundai 3-1, and then defeated Gangwon 2-1, succeeding in escaping from the bottom. It was the first consecutive win of the season for Suwon, who had been losing repeatedly.
Gangwon, which was also struggling and trailing by a narrow margin in 11th place, fell to the bottom after being hit by Suwon, but won 2-0 against Ulsan on the 12th before planting, bringing down Suwon again. Gangwon’s victory on this day set several records, and it was the first victory against Ulsan in 11 years, and this is the first time that it has caught Ulsan at home since its foundation in 2008. The most important thing is that he got three points. Gangwon coach Yoon Jung-hwan (50), who tasted his first victory since taking office in June, said, “It is thanks to the players’ concentration until the end. “I will win consecutive games,” he said. As of the 15th, Gangwon has 20 points to win, leading Suwon (19 points) by one point. Unfortunately, the sacrifice of the bottom two teams was Ulsan (57 points).
Suwon manager Kim Byung-soo and Gangwon manager Yoon Jung-hwan both played as outstanding midfielders when they were active, while Kim was called a “genius” and Yoon was praised for “good passes and dribbles.” Head coach Kim has been a leader since 1998 and coach Yoon since 2008, but the role of a firefighter who has to lead the team this year is particularly heavy on his shoulders. Of the total 38 rounds, 26 games were played, Suwon will play the next game against Jeju United (8th, 34 points) on the 18th, and Gangwon will play Suwon FC on the 19th.
Suwon FC, ranked 10th, is also in a difficult situation. They are leading Gangwon by 3 points with 23 points. On the 7th, key striker Lars (32, South Africa) was charged with drunk driving, and the Korea Professional Football Federation suspended Lars for 15 games. I can’t play the rest of the season. Lars is fourth in scoring with nine goals. Suwon FC is expecting Lee Seung-woo (25, 4 goals).
by: 먹튀검증디비