The real relegation battle begins now
The relegation battle is in full swing in K League 1 after the July break. In the 24th round before the break, the standings changed. Suwon Samsung, who had been at the bottom of the table, turned things around by defeating Gangwon FC 2-1 in the so-called “Battle of Destruction”. In last place after 24 rounds is Gangwon (16 points). Suwon Samsung (18 points) is in 11th place and Suwon FC is in 10th.
Suwon have overcome a prolonged slump and are now unbeaten (2 wins, 3 draws) in their last two games and five matches. Earlier this year, the team fired head coach Lee Byung-geun and appointed Kim Byung-soo. The results didn’t follow after Kim’s arrival, but he has gradually gotten his act together. In the summer transfer window, Suwon signed nine players, the most in K League 1, and the new faces are paying off.
Kim Joo-won was added to the defense, Kazuki to the midfield, and Lee Gum-yeol to the attack, and the foreign and young players have come to life. After the break, Suwon Samsung will face Suwon FC. With only two points separating the two teams, a victory for Suwon could see them move up the standings.
On the other hand, things are still not going well for Suwon FC and Gangwon. Suwon FC, in particular, has been stuck in a slump since hitting mid-table. They haven’t won in nearly two months, since their last win against Suwon Samsung (1-2 L) on March 3. Since then, they’ve gone 2-0-6 in eight games. With 26 goals and 51 conceded in 24 games, their weak defense has gotten worse and their strength, scoring, has diminished. Suwon FC’s offensive line of Ras, Lee Seung-woo, and Kim Hyun is a cacophony. The club added Hugo Gomes and Bautersson in the summer transfer window, but they have yet to make an impact.
The same goes for Gangwon. Gangwon stepped down as head coach Choi Yong-soo and reorganized under Yoon Jeong-hwan. However, the team has yet to pick up a win in six league games under Yoon, having drawn four and lost two. Gangwon hasn’t won in 14 matches (6 draws and 8 losses). Gangwon tried to bolster its roster in the summer transfer window with the signings of Yago, Gabriel, Kang Too-ji, and Lee Jae-won, but the results did not meet expectations. 스포츠토토
There are nine games left to reach the final round and 14 to end the season. The gap between last-place Gangwon and Suwon FC is only four points. This is a gap that can be overturned with a winning streak. How they use the break to improve could make all the difference in August. The real relegation battle has just begun.