No matter which team wins, a new history will be made. For the first time ever, the Korea Cup final “East Coast Derby” will be held.
Ulsan HD and Pohang Steelers will face off for the trophy in the 2024 Hana Bank Korea Cup final at 3 p.m. on the 30th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The Korea Cup is a competition where professionals and amateur players participate in the event to determine the best in Korean soccer. Up until last year, the event was called the Korea Football Association (FA) Cup, but the name was changed to the Korea Cup for the sake of the identity of Korean soccer. The final match has also been changed from home-and-away to neutral single-round match.
Ulsan, the reigning champion of the K League 1 for three consecutive seasons, is committed to winning the Korea Cup and achieving a double title this season. Ulsan had some chaotic times when Hong Myung-bo left during the season, but successfully stabilized the team by quickly appointing Kim Pan-gon. As a result, it secured an early victory and became the first team to win the title for three consecutive seasons.
Ulsan is dreaming of reclaiming the top spot for the first time in seven years since 2017, when it lifted the trophy for the first time in the club’s history. If it achieves its goal, it will become the third team in history to win both the K-League and the Korea Cup, following Pohang in 2013 and Jeonbuk in 2020.
Ulsan coach Kim Pan-gon said, “I won the K-League, but the Korea Cup final feels different,” adding, “I will do my best to show good games and win the championship to convey the joy of winning two gold medals to the fans.”
Pohang, the defending champion, is dreaming of winning the most titles at two consecutive tournaments. It beat Jeonbuk in the final last season, reaching the final, and achieved a total of five championships (1996, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2023). This is a record that is tied with Jeonbuk and Suwon Samsung for the most wins.
If Pohang wins again this year, it will be the only team that wins the most championships. “It has been a long journey to come here. I was able to come here thanks to the sweat and hard work of the players. I will make sure to lift the trophy so that it will not be in vain,” said Park Tae-ha, who has been aiming for the trophy since his debut season.
It is true that Pohang is lagging behind in terms of objective performance and the current trend. Pohang had two draws and three losses in the final round, failing to win a single game. However, Ulsan also lost 1-3 to Shanghai Haigang (China) at its home ground on Tuesday, and lost for the fifth consecutive time in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE), which has seen its momentum falter. 먹튀검증
Pohang desperately needs a trophy to advance to the Asian stage next season. The winner of the Korea Cup will be given the right to play in the ACL Two (ACL2). Of course, if Gwangju or Jeonbuk win the ACLE and ACL2, it could not have happened, but the difference is huge in that it has a chance.
As it is a one-off match, there are many variables. “I think there might be a problem in motivation,” Park Tae-ha said, picking “Aging” as Ulsan’s weakness. He will dig into that area well.” Then, Kim replied, “I feel confident. I am not worried because my players are more experienced than aging.”