The 37th round of the K League 1 2024 Final B will kick off at 4:30 p.m. on the 10th to avoid direct relegation (12th) and the drop in the promotion and playoffs (10th to 11th). Depending on the result of this round, the ranking of the relegation team or the relegation zone may be determined. On the contrary, the competition may continue until the final match amid the chaos.
The match that draws attention is a showdown between the lowest-ranked Incheon United (36 points) and the ninth-ranked Daejeon Hana Citizen (42) where the possibility of confirming the relegation is open. If Incheon cannot beat Daejeon and 11th-ranked Jeonbuk Hyundai (38) beats 10th-ranked Daegu FC (40), Incheon will be demoted to the second division for the first time since its foundation.
Attention is focusing on whether Incheon’s instinct to become the “survival king” will continue, which has remained dramatically whenever it is on the verge of relegation. Luckily, the mood at the last minute is unusual again this season. After three consecutive losses, the team recorded an unbeaten record in two consecutive matches, including 1-0 win against Gwangju FC and 0-0 draw against Jeonbuk FC.
The problem is that Daejeon’s upward trajectory is not easy. Moreover, Daejeon, which is ranking ninth, is only two points behind Daegu, which poses a risk of re-falling the relegation zone. If the team wins Incheon, it can confirm its remaining status based on the result of the match between Jeonbuk and Daegu. Daejeon is committed to completely eliminate the possibility of being demoted by mobilizing the momentum of having no loss in three matches (two wins and one draw).
Incheon, which poses a risk of being demoted even if it is a draw, is expected to throw a winning move unlike the previous away match in Jeonbuk. The key is whether Incheon’s spear, led by Mugosa (15 goals), the top scorer, can break through the shield of Daejeon, which has allowed no points in three games. Daejeon is expected to counteract Incheon’s situation with a tactic that reversely utilizes the situation, but the concern is that there is no clear fixer to the extent that no player has scored more than five goals this season.
Jeonbuk and Daegu, both of which are in the relegation zone, will face off against each other. Jeonbuk desperately needs three points to get out of the direct relegation crisis and Daegu to enter the remaining ranks.
Jeonbuk, which invested nearly 20 billion won (1 million U.S. dollars) in player salaries last year but is on the verge of being demoted, has had no win (one draw and three losses) for four consecutive matches. The mood needs to change urgently. In particular, the biggest challenge is how to revive its offense power, which has not scored a single goal since the beginning of the final round. If the team beats Daegu, it can rise to 10th place depending on the results of Incheon. On the contrary, if the team fails to win against Daegu, it could determine the relegation zone and play the final match, falling to the bottom. 스포츠토토
Daegu also had no win in its third match of the final round (two draws and one loss). Another negative factor is that ace Cesinha Cesinha is out of the lineup due to rib injury. Still, the fact that he was particularly strong against Jeonbuk in this season can give him confidence in the upcoming match. Notably, Daegu scored four goals (two matches) in additional time alone in the match against Jeonbuk in this season. The upcoming match between the two teams is also expected to remain tight-lipped until the whistle blows.