*This content was translated by AI.
K League 1's Ulsan HD aims for its second consecutive victory of the season. At the heart of this effort is a "fearsome attack power" that has scored a staggering 8 goals in its last 3 matches, backed by a diversified array of scorers.
Led by head coach Kim Hyun-seok, Ulsan will face FC Anyang in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 9 match at Anyang Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on the 22nd. This midweek round comes just three days after their match against Gwangju FC on the 19th.
Ulsan embarks on an away journey amid a steep upward trend. In the previous round against Gwangju, the team scored a remarkable 5 goals to secure a 5-1 victory, marking the most goals scored in a single match by Ulsan this season. This result holds significant meaning as it completely reversed the momentum following a 1-4 defeat to FC Seoul earlier in the week, instantly breaking a potential losing streak with a 5-goal onslaught. Including the 2nd-1 win against Incheon United in Round 7, Ulsan has scored a total of 8 goals in its last 3 matches, boasting an average of nearly 3 goals per game.
The key lies in the diversification of scorers, not just Yago, who was responsible for goals in the early part of the season. Yago initially served as the team's primary striker, scoring in each of the first 3 matches of the season. Meanwhile, Mavang, who had been sidelined for some time, began appearing as a substitute starting from the Incheon match and has since scored in 3 consecutive matches, emerging as a new problem-solver. In the Gwangju match, his first start of the season, he delivered a one-man show with 2 goals and 1 assist.
Mavang's performance has even provided an opportunity for Yago, who started in 7 consecutive matches since the season opener, to rest. Yago was left out of the lineup entirely for the Gwangju match to focus on recovery rather than injury. Given that the emphasis was on regaining fitness, he is likely to return for the Anyang match. Either Yago, with 5 goals in 7 matches, or Mavang, with 4 goals and 1 assist in 3 matches, could lead Ulsan's attack. For head coach Kim Hyun-seok, this is a "happy dilemma."
Among the foreign players, 193cm tall striker Heo Yul has also made his presence felt. Initially excluded from the lineup due to Mavang's return, Heo Yul was included in the substitute list for the Gwangju match after Yago's rest, marking his first appearance in 3 matches. He then came on as a substitute in the second half and scored his first goal of the season. While his impact has not yet matched that of Yago or Mavang, it is encouraging that he has broken his silence and begun to gain momentum.
"Ace" Lee Dong-gyeong has also returned. After being left out of the lineup to recover his fitness following the Seoul match, Lee Dong-gyeong made his comeback in the Gwangju match as a substitute and immediately scored. Including his 3 consecutive goal contributions in the first 3 matches of the season, he now has 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 matches. Additionally, Joker Lee Min-hyeok recorded his first assist in the Gwangju match, and Jang Si-young, who had shown strong form as a substitute, earned his first start of the season in the same match, firmly establishing himself as another key option on the flanks.
As a result, head coach Kim Hyun-seok has even more options despite the grueling schedule of alternating weekend and midweek matches. This situation inevitably places greater pressure on opposing teams. If Ulsan defeats Anyang, it will achieve its second consecutive victory of the season following its 3-match winning streak at the start. This will narrow the gap with league-leading Seoul to 3 points, allowing Ulsan to fully re-enter the "title race."
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*This content was translated by AI.
