Preview: Daejeon Citizen Vs Suwon FC

Daejeon Citizen, who head into round 16 of the 2017 K League Challenge season still with just the solitary league victory to speak of  this term, welcome a faltering Suwon FC to Purple Arena on Monday night. Suwon haven't recorded victory since the last time these two sides faced each other at the end of April,  a win-less run that, after Saturday's stalemate away to FC Anyang, stretches to six games. Come Monday night in Daejeon, will one of these teams finally pick up a much sought after win?

Image from Facebook.com/dcfc1997

Overview

Last Time Out

Last Monday evening Daejeon suffered yet another morale-damaging defeat when the Purples fell to a late winner to promotion-hunting Busan IPark. But, Lee Youngik's Daejeon team had managed to get their noses in front through Georgian winger Levan (pictured above) midway through the first half.

The on-loan AFC Tubize man coolly slotted home after getting on the end of neatly threaded ball from right-back Park Jaewoo who did well to pick Levan out inside the Busan penalty area. With 25 minutes on the clock, the 21-year-old shaped his body, took a touch before clinically slotting the ball past the goalkeeper, much to the sheer delight of the travelling Daejeon faithful.

Citizen went in at the interval ahead but their lead barely made it past the hour mark when the home team levelled on 63 minutes via a Ko Kyungmin header, nodding home from a corner. Busan's comeback was complete in the 91st minute when Lee Kyuseong prodded the ball past former Busan reserve stopper Kim Kiyong between the sticks for Citizen.

Suwon, meanwhile, prolonged their win-less run by drawing 0-0 away to FC Anyang, in a game that saw both teams end the game with 10 men. K League United's new FC Anyang columnist Hosu Kim reviews the game here.

Something has got to give

Both sides are in need of a win, more so Daejeon who have not tasted victory in the league since round three; over 1,000 minutes of football without a win. But, given their barren spell, perhaps Suwon are the ideal team for the Purples to face and get back to winning ways. Suwon haven't won on the road in the league since March and have never beaten Daejeon away from home.

Daejeon gaffer Lee Youngik expressed his frustrations and regret after the defeat to Busan last Monday, insisting that his players had taken on board the tactics and game plan that he had wanted:

"It's is such a shame, there are no other words. I am thankful that the players tried their hardest during the game but I always say this and the outcome is the same. We played well but we were unable to hold out.

"There is a psychological issue. Tactically, we prepared well and these tactics were there to see but our inability to cope is a shame. But, I am not daunted by the task of ending this losing streak."

Source: Naver Sports

Previous Meetings

These two sides met at the end of April which, incidentally, was the last time Suwon picked up three points. On a sunny afternoon at Suwon Civic Stadium, Daejeon were every bit as bad as Suwon were good and, as a result, a 3-1 defeat for Daejeon was actually somewhat flattering.

Despite a decent start to the game, the Purples found themselves a goal down after just 13 minutes thanks to what was a sumptuous curling effort from the edge of the box by Suwon midfielder Lim Changkyun then a soft penalty on 33 minutes, converted by Baek Sungdong,  gifted the home side a 2-0 lead heading into half-time.

Suwon's third was all too easy as Lee Seunghyun, on the right flank was affored the time and space to cut inside and expertly find the far corner to kill the game off.

Daejeon did manage to pull one back through Cristian Danalache but any attempts at a late comeback were purely in vein meaning that Danalache's fourth league goal of the season proved to be scant consolation.

But, Citizen have only suffered defeat twice to Suwon in the six matches they have played, the aforementioned 3-1 defeat in April as well as a 4-1 loss on the opening day of the 2014 season at Suwon Civic Stadium.

Team News

Suwon will be without the services of their Australian central defender Adrian Leijer after the former Melbourne Victory man was dismissed in the 0-0 draw with FC Anyang last Saturday.

Daejeon Citizen have no suspensions of which to speak of, nor are there any significant injury concerns. But, goalkeeper Lee Youngchang has been conspicuous by his absence having disappeared from the match day squad in recent weeks. Thus, Kim Kiyong could continue in goal whilst club captain Kim Jinkyu may return to the starting eleven after finding himself relegated to the bench last Monday against Busan IPark.

The Adversary 

Suwon gaffer Cho Deokje, despite his side's lean spell, has stuck with his favoured 4-3-3/4-1-2-3 formation. A formation that Australian forward Bruce Djite believes suits this Suwon team, and suits his style of play. Speaking to K League United he said:

"It suits my game because I have always been that sort of screening number 9, hold the ball up, bring midfielders and other into the game-type player. It's always good to play with another striker because it makes a defender's job much harder; "who do they follow?" "who do they track?" "do I come close?" "do I give the striker space?" "is there someone coming in behind me?". When you're by yourself it's a bit difficult for me but maybe a bit easier for defenders to pick up "here's coming to your right, cover him."

More from Bruce Djite here.

Who To Watch

Lee Seunghyun, was selected in the K League best 11 for round 15, and scored a delightful goal against Citizen in the last meeting between these two sides. Lee is Suwon's leading goalscorer having netted five already this term. The 31-year-old possesses good technique, two good feet and knows how to find the back of the net, even when operating from wide positions.

If Citizen are to avoid defeat come Monday then stopping Suwon's number 7 will have to be at the top of their list of priorities.

Prediction

Neither team looks like they have the confidence to go and grab all three points, arguably more so for Suwon who haven't won away from home since March. Daejeon are desperate for a win but are a team completely devoid of any confidence and so one can't see much further than a stalemate.

Daejeon Citizen 0-0 Suwon FC