Incheon United of the K League 1 professional football team is on the verge of missing the title of the “First Division Survival King” this year.
Depending on the results of the 37th round of the K League 1 this weekend, Incheon could be on the K League 2 ‘straight train’ in the second division.
“Last place” Incheon (36 points) will play a home game against ninth-ranked Daejeon Hana Citizen (42 points) in the 37th round of Hana Bank K League 1 2024 at 4:30 p.m. on the 10th at Incheon Stadium.
Incheon is currently barely on the edge of the second-division relegation zone. If the team loses in the 37th round, it can directly advance to the second division.
If 11th-ranked Jeonbuk (38 points) beats 10th-ranked Daegu FC (40 points) on the same day with Incheon losing to Daejeon, Incheon will suffer the first two relegations since its foundation, regardless of the result of the final round of 38.
If this scenario is completed, Daejeon and Gwangju (45 points) will also confirm their remaining in the K League 1 next season, following Jeju United.
In addition, if Incheon draws with Daejeon in the 37th round and Jeonbuk beats Daegu, Incheon cannot avoid a fall in the second division.
Incheon is far behind Daegu in multiple points, so it has to accept the relegation.
There is also a miracle scenario in which Incheon can continue its “survival king instinct.”
In the 37th round, Incheon wins Daejeon, and Jeonbuk and Daegu draw.
In this case, if Jeju beats Daejeon while Incheon beats Daegu in the final match of the 38th round, and Gwangju defeats Jeonbuk, Incheon and Daejeon could have the same points as 42.
With Incheon scoring 34 goals and Daejeon scoring 39 goals by the 36th round, while Incheon wins two consecutive multi-score games as much as possible, if Daejeon loses two consecutive games and Daegu and Jeonbuk are sluggish with one draw and one loss, Incheon can rise to ninth place and complete a dramatic “Remain in the First Division.”
However, it is extremely unlikely that such a situation will occur.
For Incheon, the most realistic way is to play the promotion playoff (PO) to avoid “direct relegation” in the final round of 38 after successfully escaping “last place” in the 37th round.
Incheon, ahead of the 37th round against Daejeon, is determined to be the “final match” as always.
It is comforting that Incheon led Daejeon and the opponent with 2 wins and 1 loss (2-0 wins, 1-0 wins, 1-2 losses) this season.
Mugosa’s toes, who has been the top scorer with 15 goals this season, are Incheon’s most reliable weapons, but Incheon’s biggest weakness is that it lacks offensive resources to support him. With four goals (four assists), Gersault is the second-leading scorer in his team.
It is also burdensome for Incheon that Daejeon has been on the rise with no losses (2 wins and 1 draw) in the last three consecutive games. 스포츠토토
The showdown between 11th-ranked Jeonbuk and 10th-ranked Daegu draws attention as much as the Incheon-Daejeon match.
The fact that Jeonbuk, a “traditional powerhouse” with the most wins (9 times) in the K League 1, fell to 11th place in the worst season and was on the verge of relegation is shocking to fans.
Jeonbuk has no choice but to win all two remaining games this season and watch the results of other teams to get out of the worst relegation situation.
The best way for Jeonbuk to get out of the relegation zone is to win the 37th round against Daegu and the 38th round against Gwangju, and then the ninth-ranked Daejeon will lose two consecutive games.