Incheon United put an end to Pohang Steelers’ 9 match undefeated streak (5 wins, 4 draws).
Incheon won 2-0 in the 10th round of the Hanawon Q K League 1 2023 away match against Pohang at Pohang Steel Yard at 3:00 pm on the 30th. Incheon (12 points), who won their 3rd win of the season, rose to 8th place, and Pohang finished their undefeated march in 10 games.
What changed the flow of the game was the departure of Pohang winger Kim In-seong. Kim In-seong, who received a yellow card once, was sent off after receiving another warning for a rough tackle on Zerso during extra time in the first half. A soccer boot stud was a dangerous tackle to Gerso’s ankle. Incheon did not miss the opportunity. In the second half, thanks to Mun Ji-hwan and Chun Sung-hoon’s consecutive goals, they defeated Pohang.
The national football team coach Jurgen Klinsmann watched the match. Coach Klinsman sat in the stands and watched the game with advisor Cha Du-ri and coach Michael Kim.
In the first half, 안전놀이터Pohang took the mood. Incheon aimed for the Pohang goal through a quick counterattack. The decisive chance came to Incheon, but Pohang’s final defense did not give up easily.
The game leaned towards Incheon from the second half after Kim In-sung was sent off. Incheon started to increase their possession time from the second half against 10-man Pohang, and in the 10th minute of the second half, Moon Ji-hwan’s mid-range shot bounced around the corner of the net and took the lead.
10 minutes later, Chun Seong-hoon scored an additional goal. In the counterattack situation, Jerso carried the ball and accurately passed it to Chun Seong-hun on the left side of the penalty area. After touching the ball with the sole of his foot, Chun Seong-hun lightly evaded one of the defenders, and immediately finished it calmly with a right-footed shot.
After that, Incheon started to defend. In the 35th minute of the second half, Zerso and Hernandez were removed, Song Si-woo and Hong Si-hoo were put in, and all five replacement cards were used. Incheon managed the game by spinning the ball leisurely for the rest of the time.
Right before the game ended, there was a battle of nerves between Shin Jin-ho and Pohang striker Lee Ho-jae. Shin Jin-ho played in Pohang until last year and wore the Incheon uniform this season. The match was also referred to as the ‘Shin Jin-ho Derby’, and Shin Jin-ho tangled with his former teammates in the final stages. In the process, Shin Jin-ho and Shin Kwang-hun received yellow cards.