In this round of matches, Shanghai Seaport won a key away match, which boosted the team's morale and improved their situation significantly. There are only three rounds of matches left, including two home matches and one away match, so the schedule is more favorable for them. Seaport hosts Gwangju in their first match, then Kobe Victory on the road in their second match, before returning home to face Yokohama Marinos in the final round. Three points from each of the two home games would boost Seaport's promotion prospects, but none of the three teams they face will be easy to beat.
Shandong Taishan secured three points at home in this round, a crucial score that should not be underestimated. Although their upcoming schedule includes one home game and two away games against Kawasaki, Gwangju and Ulsan, Taishan is still in good shape. The key will be to make the most of the home advantage against Gwangju and the chances on the road against Ulsan, where the team's fate is in their hands.
Currently, Kobe Victory is six points ahead of the 9th place in the table, while Gwangju is five points ahead. If they win in the next round, there is little doubt that both teams will advance. Even if Buriram United and Pohang Steelers are not in the promotion circle for the time being, the difference in points is so small that they still have a chance to hit the top.
November 27th Race Overview
Gwangju FC vs Shanghai Shenhua
In this round of fixtures, Shanghai Shenhua faced Gwangju World Cup Arena away from home with a Kuwaiti refereeing team enforcing the law, with Ahmad Ali in charge of the referee and Abdullah Kandari as the video assistant referee. Gwangju scored a goal in the first half, but it was ruled invalid for a foul. Gwangju took the lead in the 58th minute with a brilliant overhead kick from Asani. Despite Shanghai Shenhua's all-out fightback, they were never able to equalize the score and eventually lost on the road.
Yokohama Mariners beat Pohang Steelers 2-0.
The match got underway at the Yokohama International Complex Arena, with the Yokohama Mariners breaking the deadlock in the 41st minute on a goal by Jan Matthäus. In the 95th+5th minute, Yokohama Mariners were awarded a penalty kick, which Anderson Lopez hit. And Pohang Steelers had a penalty kick opportunity in the 90th+9th minute, but Kim Minjoon's shot failed to score.
