Pohang Steelers won three consecutive games without allowing a run for the first time since head coach Park Tae-ha was appointed.
Pohang won 1-0 in the 25th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025' held at Anyang Stadium on the 15th.
With this victory (41 points), Pohang has won three consecutive games, rising to third place in the league. It is the first time since coach Park Tae-ha took office that Pohang won three consecutive games without losing a point. Anyang (27 points) fell into a three-game losing streak again. After winning the match against Daegu, he lost three consecutive games again, failing to raise his ranking from 11th place.
Anyang was in desperate need of a rebound. Anyang has been struggling with two wins, one draw and five losses in the last eight games, failing to get results. In the previous game against Jeonbuk Hyundai, he had the potential to push the leader Jeonbuk hard, but he failed to rebound easily and fell to 11th place. Anyang was glad to see Ivan Yukichi join at a time when the defense was gradually stabilizing due to the joining of Kwon Kyung-won. Only when Yukichi plays a role in the attack can he revitalize the team's offense along with Mota and Mateus.
It was Pohang, which had a chance to rise. Pohang lost three consecutive games and won Daegu and Gwangju and succeeded in winning consecutive games. Winning the previous two games without losing points is a good thing for Pohang, where defense was a concern. However, Ki Sung-yueng's departure is painful. Ki Sung-yueng has contributed to his reputation in the midfield since joining Pohang. Ki Sung-yueng suffered a microfracture of his ribs in the match against Gwangju and is inevitable to be absent for the time being. Fortunately, the gap in the midfield is expected to be minimized due to Kim Dong-jin, who has been ruled out due to the suspension, and Kim Jong-woo, who returned from injury.
Anyang coach Yoo Byung-hoon stepped up with a 3-5-2 formation. Mota and Mateus at the front line, and Choi Sung-beom, Kim Jung-hyun and Chae Hyun-woo at the midfield. Wingbacks consisted of Kim Dong-jin and Lee Tae-hee, and three-backs were made up of Thomas, Kwon Kyung-won and Lee Chang-yong. Kim Dasol defended the goal.
Pohang coach Park Tae-ha faced off with a 4-4-2 formation. Hong Yoon-sang and Lee Ho-jae were in the two-top, and Jorge, Auberdan, Kim Dong-jin and Kang Min-joon were in the midfield. Eo Jung-won, Park Seung-wook, Jeon Min-kwang, and Shin Kwang-hoon kept the four backs. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Hwang In-jae.
Pohang pushed Anyang at the start of the first half. Pohang, which won the ball along with Giorgi's pressure in the third minute of the first half, later blocked Giorgi's mid-range shot in front of the Anyang penalty box by Kim Da-sol.
Pohang took the lead with the first goal at an early point. In the 6th minute of the first half, Jorge, Eo Jung-won, and Lee Ho-jae quickly penetrated Anyang's defense, and Jorge, who broke through the left, scored a low and fast cross. Immediately after Giorgi's pass, Lee Ho-jae finished with a shot and shook Anyang's net. It was Lee Ho-jae's 11th goal in the league.
Taking the lead, Pohang continued to push Anyang's defense to widen the gap. In the 11th minute of the first half, Giorgi caught the ball in the center of the box and tried to shoot high.
Anyang also gradually took the lead and sought opportunities. In the 20th minute of the first half, Chae Hyun-woo's shot in front of the gate was blocked by Hwang In-jae in the attack situation in the box following Kwon Kyung-won's long throw-in. In the 29th minute of the first half, Matheus' cross headed to the gate, but was blocked by Park Seung-wook's defense.
Giorgi's movements were unusual. In the 33rd minute of the first half, Giorgi caught the ball near the Pohang box and immediately advanced to the front of the Anyang box with a dribble breakthrough. Giorgi even tried to shoot himself, but the ball headed to the stands, not the goal.
Anyang drove an attack at the end of the first half. In the 44th minute of the first half, Hwang In-jae cleared a cross into the Pohang box, and Chae Hyun-woo and Mo-ta then sought a chance, but were blocked by Pohang's defense. The pass, which aimed for Mota's rush in the first minute of extra time in the first half, was also not finished with a shot on Hwang In-jae's quick cover.
The first half ended with Pohang's 1-0 lead.
Anyang was the first team to get a chance in the second half. Yago, who received Mota's pass after linking in front of the Pohang box in the third minute of the second half, tried to touch the ball at the gate, but was caught in defense.
Matheus fought hard near the Pohang box. In the 15th minute of the second half, Matheus grabbed the ball in front of the opponent's box, turned calmly, and even tried to shoot, but headed straight to Hwang In-jae. In the 21st minute of the second half, Matheus, who received a pass from Mota in a counterattack, tried to shoot but was caught in defense.
Anyang continued to threaten Pohang's goal. After Yago's shot was blocked in the 25th minute of the second half, Moon Sung-woo tried to connect a fast cross from the ensuing corner kick with a header at the gate, but he couldn't reach his head and went off the goal line. Anyang, which failed to score despite its continued attacks, made changes in the 30th minute of the second half by excluding Mota and Moon Sung-woo, and putting in Ivan Yukichi and Kim Un.
Anyang, which was aiming for the equalizer, had a variable to leave. In the 40th minute of the second half, Kwon Kyung-won used his elbow in the process of blocking Juninho, and the referee immediately declared his exit. Despite the numerical inferiority, Anyang did not let go of its pursuit. Yago's powerful shot went to the side of the goal in the fourth minute of the second half of extra time.
In the end, the game ended with Pohang's 1-0 victory.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
