WK League News

There’s a full slate of WK League fixtures this evening as Round 17 gets underway — as things stand, Suwon FC have a commanding lead at the top of the table, but there are no foregone conclusions as the playoff race is just starting to heat up. Here’s a look at the table as things stand, and a quick look ahead to tonight’s matches.

How things stand

An almost unstoppable Suwon side are currently eight points clear at the top, but defending champions Hwacheon KSPO, in second place, do have two games in hand, so the regular season title is by no means a done deal. Suwon can’t afford to slip up, as wins in KSPO’s outstanding fixtures (against Incheon and Seoul) will have them really breathing down the leaders’ necks as the regular season reaches its climax.

Six points separate Hwacheon from third-placed Mungyeong Sangmu, a team whose form has tapered off somewhat since the start of the season, but who are still doing enough to keep hopes of the club’s first ever WK League playoff alive. Sangmu’s best finish in league history was in 2011, when they came in fourth.

After a disastrous start to the season, Gyeongju KHNP have risen up the table rapidly and currently sit in fourth, though they are ahead of fifth-placed Incheon Hyundai only by the narrowest of margins. KHNP missed out on the playoff last year despite high expectations, while Incheon’s title hopes ended after a goalless draw in the playoff saw Seoul City proceed to the championship final.

Sejong and Seoul, in sixth and seventh place respectively, are close enough to the playoff race on points to make every match count, but without a sudden uptick in form, it will be hard for either side to have a chance at championship glory this year. Gangjin Swans remain at the bottom of the table and seem likely to stay there — despite high expectations at the start of the season, for the most part the club has struggled to produce positive results.

Round 17

Seoul City Amazones v. Sejong Sportstoto
19:00, Friday 24th July. Auxiliary Field, Seoul World Cup Stadium

A six-pointer in the race for sixth place. Despite fears that she would be absent for longer, keeper Kim Jungmi returned to action in Round 16 and helped mercurial Seoul to victory away at Incheon. Meanwhile Sejong have now gone six matches without a win, and without scoring a single goal. However, their last win, on 31st May, was against Seoul — could this be a good omen for their re-match tonight?

Hwacheon KSPO v. Mungyeong Sangmu
19:00, Friday 24th July. Hwacheon Sports Park

Second and third go head-to-head as both sides try to cement their positions and secure progression to the playoff. When these two teams met in Hwacheon in April, Sangmu surprised the visitors with a 1-0 win, but KSPO got their own back the following month, beating Mungyeong 3-1 on their own territory.

Suwon FC v. Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
19:00, Friday 24th July. Suwon Sports Complex

Runaway leaders Suwon FC host an Incheon side on poor form — three of the Red Angels’ six wins this season came in the first three rounds, and since then, the only teams they have managed to beat are Gyeongju and Gangjin. The last time these sides met, Suwon won 4-0. They do head into this fixture without top goalscorer Haruhi Suzuki, who is injured, but they should still have enough firepower in their squad to see off the threat from Incheon.

Gyeongju KHNP v. Gangjin Swans
19:00, Friday 24th July. Pitch 3, Gyeongju Football Park

Past meetings and current form suggest the home side have the slight advantage here, with a win tonight potentially enough to propel KHNP to the lofty heights of third place for the first time this season. However, Gyeongju’s home form has been poor this season and the Swans’ Round 16 win against Mungyeong, not to mention summer signing Kang Chaerim, could give the visitors a boost.