Pohang Steelers win 2nd straight Korea Cup football tournament

Pohang Steelers defeated their regional rivals Ulsan HD FC 3-1 for their second consecutive title at the top national football tournament on Saturday.

Former Ulsan player Kim In-sung headed home the go-ahead goal in the 112nd minute as Pohang captured the 2024 Korea Cup crown at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the capital. Kang Hyun-je then put the icing on the cake with a stoppage-time goal seconds before the final whistle.

With six titles overall, Pohang broke a tie with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Suwon Samsung Bluewings for most Korea Cup championships.

Kim, who played for UIsan from 2016 to 2021, was named the MVP of the tournament. He said he typically wouldn't go overboard with his celebration of a goal against a former team, but his emotions got the better of him on Saturday.

"This was the most emotional goal I've scored in my career," Kim said. "I felt overwhelmed even during the warmup, looking at our supporters who've come all the way to Seoul to cheer for us. I wanted to win this more than anything because it was the final and we were up against our rival."

Pohang's extra-time victory also foiled Ulsan's bid for a domestic double. Ulsan won their third straight K League 1 title earlier this month and were going for their second Korea Cup.

The teams were knotted at 1-1 after 90 minutes of action, before Kim put Pohang ahead for good 22 minutes into the extra session.

Oberdan saved a ball from going out of play deep in the attacking zone and made a backheel pass to Kim Jong-woo on the left wing. Kim then crossed for Kim In-sung, who soared to head it home with two defenders getting caught watching the ball.

"I will do everything for Jong-woo for making that pass," Kim In-sung said with a smile. "I will buy him a nice meal, for sure."

Ulsan had a chance to tie it some five minutes later but Kim Min-jun's wide-open volley, set up by Lee Myung-jae's cross, went too high.

As the clock ticked down, Kang went on a one-man counterbreak and scored off his right foot to cap the victory.

Joo Min-kyu had opened the scoring for Ulsan in the 38th minute before Pohang's Jeong Jae-hee leveled the score in the 69th minute. Jeong finished with the tournament-best four goals.

This was the first meeting in a Korea Cup final between these clubs, whose K League rivalry has been dubbed the "East Coast Derby" for their geographical proximity.

Park Tae-ha, first-year head coach for Pohang, won the inaugural Korea Cup in 1996 as a player with Pohang, though he said he could barely remember that moment.

"I was barely in the squad back then. This championship feels so much better," Park said. "We dealt with a lot of injuries and we were in a tough spot. We could have just folded. But our players worked so hard and came together as a team. This couldn't have been possible without their effort. In particular, our veterans came through and did their job." (Yonhap)