Preview: FC Anyang Vs Daejeon Citizen

K League 2's bottom placed club FC Anyang host Daejeon Citizen at Anyang Civic Stadium this Saturday with the Violets still searching for their first league win of the season. Daejeon, meanwhile, despite a shaky start to 2018, have managed two victories and head into Saturday's game on the back of an away win against Gwangju. Being at home Anyang will see this as an ideal opportunity to get their season up and running but Citizen have proved that they have it in them to pick up points on the road.
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Overview

from Soccerway.com

Last Time Out

Saturday's hosts FC Anyang fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Suwon FC last weekend thanks to a strike from Alex Lima in the 27th minute. Anyang's Ahn Jinbeom gave the ball away midway into his own half which was duly lapped up by Suwon's Min Hyunhong. The 22-year-old hit a smart pass around the corner to Jo Sangbeom on the left flank whose teasing cross over the goalkeeper was met by Alex Lima at the back post. Lima broke free of his marker to nod the ball home, his first since the former Houston Dynamo midfielder's transfer from MLS to K League over the winter.

Daejeon Citizen, on the other hand, picked up their second victory over the campaign by easing  past recently relegated Gwangju FC in a narrow win. At Guus Hiddink Stadium Ko Jongsoo's side's 1-0 victory was thanks to a goal from Uzbek international midfielder Shohruh Gadeov, his first since making the move to the Purples little over a month ago. A free-kick from Kim Soo-il from the left-hand side made it's way to the penalty spot where Gadeov's glancing header in the 61st minute found the top corner to give Citizen the lead and, subsequently, the three points and their second victory of the campaign.

Previous Meetings

Daejeon's most recent trip to Anyang was in October last year where the two teams played out a 0-0 stalemate. Before that, at the beginning of July last year, Citizen picked up what was then their fourth of only six victories last season thanks to a 2-0 win at Purple Arena. A debut goal from Bruno Cantanhede, now of Anyang, and Kim Chanhee in the 72nd and 85th minutes respectively sealed the win. From the other two games played last term, Anyang won both - a 3-2 home victory in May followed a 2-0 win at Purple Arena in April.

In Anyang, Daejeon have actually only won once - a five goal thriller back in May 2014. Song Joohan put Citizen in front on 28 minutes only for Kim Jaewoong to level on the stroke of half time. Early into the second period a quickfire double had Daejeon in front once again; Lim Changwoo restored the Purples' advantage on 56 before Vanderlei made it 3-1 just two minutes later. Felipe Adão pulled one back for Anyang to ensure of a nervy end to proceedings but Cho Jinho's side held out and returned to Noeun-dong with all three points.

Since their first meeting in 2014 there have been 12 matches played between FC Anyang and Daejeon Citizen. Both sides have four wins, four draws and four losses each.

Team News

Daejeon Citizen's newest acquisition Aurelian Chițu was on the bench for the 1-0 away win over Gwangju and was introduced early in the second half. The Romanian forward may be in from the start against Anyang should Coach Ko look to rotate his sizeable squad.

Goalkeeper Kim Jinyoung is back in contention after serving a one match ban. The former Pohang Steelers custodian was dismissed during Citizen's 1-0 home defeat to Busan IPark but his deputy Lim Minhyeok performed admirably against Seongnam in the FA Cup and kept a clean sheet last week and so Kim may have to make do with a place on the bench.

For Anyang, Jeon Suhyun and Bruno Cantanhede could face their former club for the first time since making the switch from Purple to Violet. Elsewhere, other former Daejeon players Yoo Yeonseung, Ahn Sehee, Kim Daewook and Kim Hyungjin will be hoping they can be involved against their old club.

The Adversary

FC Anyang gaffer Ko Jeongwoon has largely shown preference to a 4-2-3-1 system for the majority of his side's matches so far this season. However, last time out Coach Ko opted for a 4-3-3 system to in order to add more numbers into the midfield area (Assistant Manager Michael Kim explains: here). The only other exception was the away defeat to Ansan Greeners where Ko Jeongwoon (pictured below) went for a 4-4-2 formation.

FC Anyang manager Ko Jeongwoon relaying instructions to his players alongside Assistant Manager Michael Kim (right) and 

(Image via FC Anyang)

Who To Watch

Lively winger Jung Jaehee is a player that could cause many a team problems throughout the season, as the 23-year-old did in 2017. Last term Jung bagged eight goals from the wing and adds an injection of pace and vigour to Anyang and will be one to keep an eye on. 

Winger Jung Jaehee scored eight goals last term in 23 starts.

(Image via FC Anyang)

For Daejeon Citizen Uzbek international midfielder Shohruh Gadeov seems to have taken the transition into Korean football within his stride, looking comfortable on the ball and not afraid to burst into the box. The former Bunyodkor man earned Citizen the penalty for the 1-0 home win over Seoul E-Land and provided the winner for the away win over Gwangju.

Gudeov has had a positive impact to Daejeon's midfield since joining in March

(Image via Daejeon Citizen)

Prediction

FC Anyang still seem to be taking a bit of time to gel and have struggled somewhat. The FA Cup win over Changwon City would have gone some way in improving confidence but the victory was followed up by an away defeat to Ansan Greeners. Daejeon, however, will be buoyed by the win over Gwangju and will head into the game believing they can get a positive result.

FC Anyang 1-2 Daejeon Citizen