Pohang readies for third round vs. Ulsan

Pohang Steelers FC coach Hwang Sun-hong said his team is ready to face Ulsan Hyundai FC tomorrow in the third-round playoff of the Korea Professional Football League (K-League).

Pohang went to the third round straight off as the runner-up in the regular season, while Ulsan made it by beating Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC in a penalty shootout on Wednesday.

The winner of this round will advance to the home-and-away championship series with the regular season champion Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC starting on Wednesday.

“Ulsan has a lot of experience and is a really tough team,” Hwang said to Ilgan Sports, the JoongAng Ilbo’s daily sports newspaper, yesterday. “We didn’t set special strategies for our win. We will just utilize what we have right now.”

Pohang split its two encounters with Ulsan in the regualr season, but won 2-0 at the Steel Yard, their home stadium where this playoff will be played.

“One goal will decide the result between us, but if the deadlock is broken early there could be many goals,” the 43-year-old coach said. “We will break their rhythm early in the match.”

[kjoo@joongang.co.kr]