K League Round 30: Should Pohang Play More Long Balls? Can Gangwon’s Attacking Star Rediscover Form?

As K League Round 30 unfolds, Pohang Steelers and Gangwon FC both find themselves at critical junctures. Pohang has been plagued by defensive errors, while Gangwon's key attacker, Yang Min-hyeok, is struggling to find his best form after national team duty. In this article, we’ll analyze whether Pohang should reconsider their tactical insistence on playing out from the back, and if Gangwon’s star player can recover his fitness and sharpness in time to push his team forward.

Pohang's Tactical Woes: Too Many Risky Passes

Pohang Steelers' recent form has been disastrous, and it all comes back to their high-risk, high-reward passing out of defense. Their approach seems stubborn—despite defensive blunders directly leading to goals, they persist in playing the ball out rather than opting for long, safer clearances. In their last game, which saw them lose 5-4 to Ulsan Hyundai, Pohang's defensive mistakes were glaring, allowing Ulsan to capitalize on multiple turnovers in dangerous areas.

Pohang has now gone five games without a win, and their recent run of defeats has seen a string of agonizingly close results, including four 1-2 losses. The frustrating part for Pohang fans is that their attack has been productive, scoring in nearly every game. However, their defense continues to undermine their attacking efforts, with most goals conceded coming from misplaced passes that opponents quickly convert into counter-attacks.

Against Ulsan, Pohang's pressing system frequently broke down, with Ulsan’s attackers pouncing on every misplaced pass. Ulsan’s five goals included four that came directly from turnovers in Pohang’s defensive half, highlighting just how vulnerable their backline has become under pressure.

Given these recurring issues, should Pohang consider abandoning their current tactic of playing out from the back in favor of a more pragmatic approach? Playing long balls, especially under pressure, might help them avoid the costly turnovers that have been gifting goals to their opponents. Pohang's attack, which is highly effective at exploiting the space behind opposition defenders, could actually benefit from more direct balls out of the back. By bypassing their midfield and launching quick counters, Pohang could reduce their exposure to high-risk situations.

Gangwon's Attacking Core: Will Yang Min-hyeok Bounce Back?

For Gangwon FC, their own recent dip in form can be largely attributed to the declining performances of their star playmaker, Yang Min-hyeok. As one of the brightest attacking talents in the K League, Yang’s creativity and vision are pivotal to Gangwon’s strategy. However, after a long stretch of games, including time spent on international duty with the South Korean national team, Yang seems to have entered a period of fatigue. This slump has coincided with Gangwon’s failure to win in their last two matches, which has put their title hopes in jeopardy.

During the recent international break, Yang didn’t see much action, remaining on the bench for 90 minutes during South Korea’s friendly against Oman. While some might argue that the rest would help him recover, the lack of competitive minutes could also contribute to his current lack of sharpness. As the team’s attacking engine, Yang’s inability to dictate play has left Gangwon struggling to execute their game plan.

Without Yang firing on all cylinders, Gangwon’s offense has looked toothless. Their midfield struggles to connect with the forwards, and the team has been less effective at creating clear chances. Last week, Gangwon’s inability to hold onto a lead in stoppage time led to a demoralizing 1-1 draw with Suwon, with their opponents scoring a heartbreaking equalizer in the 95th minute.

As they prepare to face Ulsan Hyundai, Gangwon’s coaching staff will need to carefully manage Yang’s fitness and find ways to get him back to his best. Whether it’s through tactical adjustments or giving him more freedom on the pitch, Yang's resurgence is essential for Gangwon to have any hope of getting back into the title race.

Gwangju vs. Pohang: Who Will End Their Losing Streak?

Both Gwangju FC and Pohang Steelers entered the final stretch of the season with serious ambitions to challenge for the title, but recent results have seen both clubs stumble. Gwangju has suffered three straight losses, while Pohang’s five-game winless run has severely hurt their championship hopes.

Gwangju’s slide can be partly explained by their grueling fixture list. In their last three matches, they faced two of the top teams in the league—Gangwon and Ulsan—and a desperate Daejeon Hana Citizen squad battling to avoid relegation. Given their tough opponents, it’s understandable that Gwangju’s form has dipped. Still, with only three games remaining in the regular season and the championship playoff looming, Gwangju must find a way to reverse their fortunes if they want to secure a top-half finish.

Their biggest issue this season has been their inconsistency in front of goal. Gwangju has rarely drawn games; they either win comfortably with clean sheets or struggle to score and get shut out. Their defensive record is strong, but without the ability to score first, they find themselves vulnerable to defeat.

Pohang, on the other hand, has been unlucky during their losing streak, often losing by just one goal. In fact, each of their last five defeats has been by a single-goal margin, including four 1-2 losses. Last week’s 4-5 loss to Ulsan saw Pohang’s attack come to life, but their defensive woes continued to haunt them. Despite scoring four goals, their defensive lapses allowed Ulsan to snatch all three points in a wild match that left Pohang fans exasperated.

For Pohang, this upcoming fixture against Gwangju represents a crucial opportunity to halt their slide. With the regular season winding down, Pohang remains only seven points behind the league leaders. Given that there are three more regular-season games and five championship playoff matches to play, Pohang still has a realistic shot at the title—provided they can tighten up their defense.

Ulsan Hyundai vs. Gangwon: The Importance of Foreign Players

Ulsan Hyundai, the reigning champions, are starting to hit their stride at just the right time. Their last two victories have seen them draw level on points with Gangwon, and they now sit atop the table on goal difference. In their previous match against Pohang, Ulsan’s foreign contingent delivered in spectacular fashion. Of their five goals, four were scored by foreign players, with summer signings Matias Carrillo and Giorgi Alrabisze leading the way. Carrillo, a Brazilian striker, and Alrabisze, a Georgian winger, have quickly integrated into the squad and combined for three of Ulsan’s goals against Pohang.

Alrabisze, in particular, stood out with a stunning free-kick goal that broke the deadlock and set Ulsan on their way to victory. The Georgian also played a crucial role in linking Ulsan’s attacks and providing creativity from the wings. However, Ulsan’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed late in the game, as Pohang repeatedly exploited the space behind their backline, nearly erasing Ulsan’s three-goal lead.

On the other side, Gangwon has struggled in recent weeks, losing ground in the title race due to a combination of bad luck and subpar performances. Yang Min-hyeok’s drop in form has been a major factor, and unless Gangwon can rediscover their attacking fluency, they risk falling further behind. Last week’s stoppage-time equalizer by Suwon denied Gangwon a crucial win, and the team’s lack of composure in key moments has become a worrying trend.

With both Ulsan and Gangwon faltering at times this season, the upcoming match is unlikely to be decisive in the title race. However, both teams will be looking to build momentum and regain their confidence as the season nears its climax. In a game that could easily go either way, both sides may hold back, aiming for stability rather than taking unnecessary risks.