Preview: Daejeon Citizen Vs Asan Mugunghwa

Looking to bounce back from their home defeat to Anyang, Daejeon Citizen welcome Asan Mugunghwa for the very first time. But, if the Purples are to get back to winning ways, they shall have to do so without the services of Cristian Danalache (above) after the Romanian was shown a straight red last Saturday.

Asan have started the season strongly, amassing nine points from their opening five matches, and make the trip to Purple Arena on the back of a run which has seen them lose once in their last five outings. (Image courtesy of Facebook.com/dcfc1997)

Daejeon Citizen							Asan Mugunghwa
D	W	L	W	L			W	W	W	W	L
					Competition:	K League Challenge
					Date:	Apr 8, 2017
					Game Week:	Round 6
					Kick-off:	15:00
					Venue:	Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Last Time Out

Daejeon's last outing will be one to forget for the Purple Arena faithful having lost at home to FC Anyang with 10 men after Cristian Danalache was dismissed midway through the second half.

Review: here

Asan also lost by the same scoreline as the newly-relocated police side were defeated at Yi Sunsin Stadium by a Busan IPark side lead by former Daejeon boss Cho Jinho.

Lee Junghyup on 74 minutes and a Rim Sanghyup goal in added on time sealed the victory for one of the divisions promotion favourites, Busan.

Previous Meetings

Under their current guise, as being inhabitants of Asan, as opposed to Ansan, there have been no previous meetings since Asan Mugunghwa are in their debut season.

However, in terms of matches against the police teams, Daejeon's record does not make for great reading having picked up just two wins from eight matches.

The most recent win against the police team, Ansan Mugungwha, was in August 2016 in a game were then playoff-chasing Citizen took no prisoners in a 5-0 romp.

Citizen were two goals to the good inside 12 minutes thanks to a Kim Dongchan strike on four minutes before Gustavo Sauerbeck doubled the Purples' advantage just eight minutes later.

Starlet Hwang Inbeom made it three on 24 minutes before Jin Daesung capped off a frantic first half an hour with a well-taken header.

Brazilian forward Gustavo Sauerbeck added his second and Daejeon's fifth on the hour mark to cap off a complete performance in which Citizen dominated and humiliated a faltering Ansan Mugungwha.

However, the most recent meeting was a month later when Ansan recorded a 1-0 win at the Wa~ Stadium, Kim Jaewoong got the only goal of the game on 55 minutes.

Team News

Georgian winger Levan Shangalia is expected to be back in contention after Daejeon's number 7, a winter loan acquisition from AFC Tubize, missed Daejeon's last three games through injury.

His return to fitness would be seen as a huge boost to Citizen's forward line especially since Lee Youngik won't have his main striker, Cristian Danalache, available.

Last season's K League Challenge second top goal scorer will miss the game through suspension having received a straight red card in Daejeon's defeat to Anyang on Saturday.

The Purples could also be without captain Kim Jinkyu as the former FC Seoul central defender was receiving treatment for a muscle injury during midweek and so could face a late fitness test.

For Asan, goalkeeper Park Juwon could line up against his parent club with Daejeon's previous number one currently on military service and thus on loan.

However, Park Hyunsoon has been the preferred choice for Asan manager Song Sunho having played the first five league fixtures.

Some other familar faces that could face their former side are midfielder Ahn Youngkyu who played for Daejeon in the 2014 season, winger Hwang Jiwoong who is serving the last few months of his military service on loan from Daejeon, as well as forward Han Euikwon who began his military service this year but is yet to feature for Asan.

Asan have started well, in contrast Daejeon have had a mixed start to the season. Away win? Or can Daejeon kickstart their season? #KLeague

— Paul Neat (@NeatPaul) April 6, 2017