The Korean FA Cup / KFA Cup enters it’s 5th Round or Round of 16 on Wednesday evening (June 24th 2015). This years cup has featured a few shock results and this round had an interesting as only 1 game features 2 K League Classic sides, and the rest are giant killings in the making. The highlight games are: the all K League Classic game that we just mentioned, which is between Pohang Steelers and league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai. The second highlight game has 4th tier side Hwaseong FC hosting K League giants and last seasons runners-up FC Seoul. Hwaseong have only lost once all season and
South Korea like any footballing nation has an exciting cup, the FA Cup of Korea has been running since 1970 and has a proud history. Although most K League sides focus on the league and sadly cup games are renowned for their low attendances, they can produce some shocks and the interest is building and the competition improves year on year.
This year the competition started in March and had a record number of teams enter 79 (up from 72 in 2014). Teams still in the competition include University sides and amateur teams as well as the professionals from the K League Classic / Challenge. The overall winner also gains a place in the 2016 AFC Champions League.
All games are being played on Wednesday June 24th. If scores remain even at full time, extra time and penalties are used to determine the winners. So no replays.
KFA Korean FA Cup 2015 Round 5 Fixtures & Previews
Firstly for reference here is the South Korea Football League Pyramid,
K League Classic (1)
K League Challenge (2)
National League (3)
K3 League previously Challengers League (4)
Then it’s University and Amateur sides which have their own separate system.
Of course due to the large number of games and range of sides full previews are very difficult, it’s also possible sides will use weakened teams.
Daejeon Korail vs. Jeju United @ 7pm
Daejeon Korail of the Korean National League will host Jeju United of the K League Classic. Daejeon are currently in 4th place of 10, whilst Jeju are 7th of 12.
Chungju Hummel vs. Jeonnam Dragons @ 7pm
Chungju Hummel of the K League Challenge will host Jeonnam Dragons of the K League Classic. Chungju are currently 9th of 11, whilst Jeonnam are 4th of 12.
Cheonan City vs. Incheon United @ 7pm
Cheonan City of the National League will host K League Classic side Incheon United. Cheonan City are currently 9th of 10, whilst Incheon are also 9th but out of 12.
Hwaseong FC vs. FC Seoul @ 7pm
Hwaseong FC of the K3 League (their only side left in the competition) host K League Classic giant FC Seoul. Hwaseong are top of their league, whilst FC Seoul are 5th in theirs.
Gangwon vs. Ulsan Hyundai @ 7pm
Gangwon of the K League Challenge host Classic opposition in the form of Ulsan Hyundai. Gangwon are currently 2nd bottom in their league, whilst Ulsan are 8th /12 in theirs.
Seongnam FC vs. Yeungnam University @ 7.30pm
Seongnam FC of the K League Classic host Yeungnam University (the university side left in the competition). Seongnam are currently 10th in the classic. These sides played either other last season at the quarter final stage, Seongnam won that one 2-1.
Pohang Steelers vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai @ 7.30pm
Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai both play in the K League Classic. Pohang are currently 3rd, whilst Jeonbuk are top. They played each other at the start of the month and the game ended 0-0.
Ulsan Dolphins vs. Daejeon Citizen @ 7.30pm
Ulsan Dolphins of the National League host Daejeon Citizen of the K League Classic in this rounds final game. Ulsan Dolphins are currently 2nd in their league, whilst Daejeon are rock bottom of theirs.
KFA Korean FA Cup 2015 5th Round Results
June 24th 2015:
Coming Soon
Finally
As always if you have anything you’d like to add please let us know.
For details on the K League and K League Challenge, please CLICK HERE.
We will try and keep things updated as best as possible via Twitter (and little via Facebook).
Tim
Modern Seoul
tim@modernseoul.org