Preview: Daejeon Citizen Vs Ansan Greeners

Hoping to make it two wins on the spin for the first time in 2017, Daejeon Citizen welcome Ansan Greeners to Purple Arena on Saturday evening. Citizen picked up a much-needed win on Monday night, their first since round 3, and now have their sites set on newly-formed Ansan Greeners. Ansan themselves have been enduring a tough time of late, having not recorded victory in their last five and as a result sit third bottom of the K League Challenge.

(Image from Facebook.com/DCFC1997

graphic from Soccerway.com

Last Time Out

After eight straight defeats, seven of those defeats in the K League Challenge, Daejeon Citizen finally recorded victory last Monday, beating promotion-chasing Suwon FC 4-3 at Purple Arena. In a thrilling encounter, Citizen came from behind twice and scored in time added on to secure all three points. Levan Shengelia was the K League United man of the match, scoring Daejeon's first as well as laying on two assists. Full match report here.

Ansan Greeners, meanwhile, earned themselves a valuable point by holding league-leaders Gyeongnam FC to a 3-3 draw at the Wa~ Stadium last Sunday. The Greeners actually found themselves two goals to the good midway through the second half thanks to strikers from Raul Tarragona and Jung Kyungho on 58 and 64 minutes respectively. But, just two minutes after Jung had given Ansan a two-goal cushion, Park Jisoo pulled one back for Gyeongnam and halved the deficit.

Raul Tarragona added his second and Ansan's third on 76 minutes only for a late rally from Gyeongnam, with goals from Choi Youngjun and Seong Jeheon in the last five minutes, which saw the spoils shared.

Previous Meetings

With Ansan Greeners being a newly formed team the only previous meeting between these two sides was earlier this season. On the opening weekend of the 2017 K League Challenge season, Daejeon Citizen made the trip north to the Wa~ where Lee Youngik's men fell to the late winner from Han Gunyong that gave Ansan's first win in their first ever competitive game.

Uzbek forward Nasimov put the home side ahead just shy of the interval before Lee Hoseok levelled for Daejeon four minutes after the restart. But, with the game looking as though it was going to end in a draw, up popped Han Gunyong to send the bumper Ansan supporters into delirium.

Team News

Daejeon will be without winger Lee Hoseok after the former Gyeongnam man picked up his third yellow card of the season in the win over Suwon FC on Monday. Hwang Inbeom is a doubt and could face a late fitness test having picked up a minor injury in the same game.

However, Brazilian-East Timorese forward Pedro Henrique could be back in contention after the player revealed via Instagram that he is fit and ready to play again having endured a spell on the treatment table. Pedro joined Daejeon in the winter but has yet to start a league game.

The Adversary

Ansan have endured a tough spell of late, currently on a run of five games without a win and in 8th place. After the win over Citizen on the opening day, Ansan lost to Busan but then went on to beat FC Anyang in round 3. Since the win over Anyang, the Green Wolves went a dismal run of eight games without a win, which included an FA Cup exit to National League side Gangneung City, and just one draw. Their next win came two months later, which they have not won since.

Greeners manager Lee Heungsil has tinkered with his formations somewhat this season, changing the shape of the team in each of the last six games. A 3-5-2 formation earned the Green Wolves a point at home to Gyeongnam last week whilst the previous week a 5-4-1 formation ensured of a clean sheet and a point away to in-form Seongnam. Before that, a 4-4-2 for the 2-1 defeat to E-Land which was preceded by the 3-5-2 formation for the defeat to Anyang.

Lee has tended to favour the 3-5-2 or the 5-4-1 depending on specific threats. Away from home against a Daejeon side with just one win in their last eight, Lee could opt for a more attacking line up. Whilst Uruguayan forward Raul Tarragona is their leading scorer with five, Ansan have had eleven different players find the net this season.

Who To Watch

Ansan's number 14, Raul Tarragona (pictured below), has made it into the official K League best XI on a number of occasions so far this term, with his goals helping to account for five points, that's nearly 40% of Ansan's points in their debut season. Without Raul, it would be Ansan propping up the table and not Daejeon.

Image from Facebook.com/ansanfc

Prediction

Daejeon will be buoyed by their win over Suwon last Monday, not just because it was the Purples' first win since March, but also because of the manner in which they were victorious. To come from behind twice and then have the belief to go on and find a winner in the dieing minutes will do Lee Youngik's men the world of good. Ansan are on a dismal run of form and are yet to pick up a win on the road and so with that in mind, a Daejeon win seems like the most likely outcome.

Daejeon Citizen 2-1 Ansan Greeners