Daejeon Citizen Vs Incheon United: Preview

Daejeon Citizen Vs Incheon United

K League Classic Round 37 Saturday 21st November 2015 2:00PM

Under pressure coach  Choi Mun Sik. Credit: DCFC.co.kr

Just as many had feared, Daejeon’s mini revival was too little too late mirroring the events of two years previous.

At the business end of the 2013 season Daejeon went on an amazing run of five wins in six but, despite their endeavours, were condemned to a season in the second tier.

Fast forward to the present day and, although Citizen’s most recent run wasn’t quite as good as that of 2013, it still gave the Daejeon faithful a glimmer of hope nonetheless.

Alas, all those hopes were dashed before the international break when Citizen fell to a 2-1 defeat to Ulsan.

Although it isn’t mathematically settled yet, Daejeon are effectively relegated back to the second tier at the first time of asking.

Incheon United will be the side that will make it mathematically so assuming that the FA Cup runners take all three points back to Gyeonggi-do come Saturday afternoon.

Citizen are 6 points adrift with two games to play but have a far inferior goal difference to that of Busan IPark’s.

Even if Daejeon do indeed fall to a defeat they will have to wait until Sunday for their relegation to be officially sewn up as Busan host Jeonnam on Sunday afternoon.

Previous Meetings

Bleak. Daejeon’s record against Incheon is bleak having not beaten seen off their north west counterparts since March 2013.

Indeed, said win is Daejeon’s only victory over Incheon in the last five years.

On a pleasant spring afternoon in March 2013 Daejeon recorded a famous win over Incheon on their own back yard.

Brazilian forward Joao Paulo ran the show that afternoon laying on an assist and netting the winner in a 2-1 win.

However, this season’s meetings have all ended in defeat for Citizen.

Joao Paulo celebrates Daejeon's winner back in March 2013.

Team News

With so many players playing for their future’s Coach Choi may feel inclined to give some of the fringe players a runout for the remaining two games.

Youngsters like Nam Yoon Jae, who has seldom been given a chance to impress even in the cup,  perhaps ought to be given a run out.

With money hard to come by, making the most of the youth system could prove to be a shrewd move for under pressure Choi Moon Sik as Citizen bid to make an instant return to the Classic.