FC Seoul Vs Daejeon Citizen: Preview

FC Seoul Vs Daejeon Citizen

K League Classic Round 27 Saturday 22^nd August 2015

Form

Seoul: DLWWWW
Daejeon: LLLLLW

Miraculously, Daejeon brought three points home to the midlands from Jeolla-do on Wednesday night thanks to an unexpected but nonetheless impressive victory over Gwangju.

Daejeon players celebrate their win over Gwangju. Photo credit: DCFC.co.kr

Gwangju, of course, followed Daejeon up from the K League Challenge having gone up via the playoff.

But, where as Daejeon have struggled no end, Gwangju have given a good account of themselves.

But, they were unable to cope with Brazilian utility man Wanderson, who although is officially labeled as a defender, bagged a brace with a goal either side of half time to send the traveling Daejeon faithful home absolutely delighted.

Daejeon’s number 77 was ushered up front having shown that the former Fortaleza man is just as if not more comfortable in the opposing penalty area than his own.

The 26-year-old sprung the offside trap after getting on the end of a cleverly hit through ball before emphatically finding into the bottom corner.

His second was even more impressive having, yet again, lost his marker off the shoulder before stinging a snapshot into the far corner from a slightly acute angle.

Said win is just Daejeon’s second league win all season, both of which have come away from home.

It would perhaps be somewhat naïve to suggest that Wednesday’s victory is the spawn of a sensational comeback, a miracle to rival that of 2003, but it is a start.

The odds a firmly stacked against Citizen in their fight to avoid the drop but, having seen Busan lose to Seoul on Wednesday – helped by former Purple Adriano’s double - the gap is now down to 10 points.

Implausible but not impossible.

Saturday’s opponents, though, are in a rich vein of form.

Seoul, who recently poached Daejeon’s best asset Adriano, are on a run of four straight wins and have just one defeat in their last ten.

Thus, if Daejeon are to get anything out of the game they need to be at their ultimate best.

Previous Meetings

The last time these two sides met was in June when Seoul made 100 mile trip to Daejeon.

Daejeon performed admirably on that midweek evening and almost caused an upset.

Promising youngster Hwang In-Beom put Daejeon ahead after 80 minutes, much to the delight of the watching faithful.

But, rather cruelely, Seoul equalised with just two minutes remaining thanks to a strike from Everton Santos.

The game was turned completely on its head a mere minute later when Yun Ju-Tae bagged the winner.

The last time Daejeon visited Seoul World Cup Stadium it was the home side, rather unsurprisingly, who ran out winners.

Kim Hyun-Sung netted the only goal of the game on 62 minutes to seal the points.

The last time Daejeon beat Seoul was over a decade ago when Citizen ran out 1-0 winners at Seoul World Cup Stadium on 16^th October 2004.

Team News

There are no fresh injury concerns for Daejeon meaning that it is widely expected to be the much of the same time that beat Gwangju that will feature on Saturday.

Park Ju Won is likely to continue in goal whilst striker Seo Myung-Won will be hoping to get some more minutes under his belt as the former Portsmouth trainee looks to build up his match fitness after returning from injury.

Meanwhile, Adriano is set to face his former club for the first time since his move to the capital.