Preview: Suwon FC Vs Daejeon Citizen

After defeats for both Suwon FC and Daejeon Citizen last weekend, both sides will be looking to bounce back during their K League 2 round nine clash this Sunday. Whilst Daejeon will feel disappointed in conceding another late goal, Suwon will still be smarting from their 5-0 hammering against Gwangju. Neither side are where they would like to be in the table at present but both Suwon's Kim Daeui and Daejeon's Ko Jongsoo will see the fixture as one that their respective teams ought to win.
(image via K League)

Overview

from Soccerway

Last Time Out

Neither Daejeon Citizen nor Suwon FC had a particularly pleasant weekend last time out. Whilst the former suffered their fifth defeat of the season, four at home, the latter were handed a 5-0 drubbing away to recently-relegated Gwangju FC at Guus Hiddink Stadium.

Despite being one of the early season favourites for promotion, Kim Daeui's Suwon FC find themselves languishing in seventh, just a place and two points ahead of the Purples. Suwon's most recent setback was an embarrassing loss to Gwangju where in which Suwon found themselves a goal down within the first minute and four down at half time. Na Sango, Jung Youngchong from the spot, a Kim Jonghwan brace had Gwangju four goals to the good before the break before Na Sangho bagged his second shortly after the restart.

Highlights: here

The Purples will perhaps feel as though they ought to have come away with something from their home defeat to now table-topping Seongnam FC, particularly given that Daejeon had the lion's share of the possession throughout. An early chance for former Magpie Filip Hlohovsky, who only had the goalkeeper to beat, sent his shot skyward after new signing Aurelian Chițu had played the Slovakian in six yards out. With such a glorious chance gone to waste, it was almost inevitable that it was the visitors who found the lead. Citizen centre back Yun Junseong brought down pacy wing-back Lee Jimin with a clumsy challenge inside the box. Up stepped Jung Seongmin to convert, sending the 'keeper the wrong way in the process.

Citizen got themselves on level terms when a beautifully-weighted Park Suchang cross found the head of Chițu on the edge of the six-yard line. The Romanian forward's glancing header found the bottom corner and looked as though Citizen were getting their just rewards. But, with four minutes to go, Seo Bomin sealed the win for Seongnam with a low strike from outside the box.

Question marks will be asked of the defending but also of the goalkeeper for allowing himself to beaten so easily by a fairly tame shot 25 yards out. Citizen conceded late in the game yet again, the second time in as many games and the fourth time already this season. If Daejeon had have held on and not conceded in the last 10 minutes of any of their matches this season, Ko Jongsoo's men would have an extra four points to their name and a healthier position in the table.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

Daejeon Citizen have not fared too well at Castle Park in recent outings. Almost exactly a year ago, at the end of April 2017, the Purples lost 3-1 to Suwon FC with goals from Lim Changkyun, Baek Seongdong and Lee Seunghyun for Suwon before Cristian Dănălache pulled a goal back midway through the second half.

It was a similar story for Citizen's most recent trip to Suwon with the Purples on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat at the end of September last year. Baek Seongdong had Suwon in front on 18 minutes before Kim Chanhee levelled just two minutes later. Mo Jaehyeon restored Suwon's advantage on 50 minutes only for Park Daehoon to level with just one minute of normal time remaining. But, despite Daejeon looking as though they had done enough to earn a point, Baek Seongdong netted a 94th minute winner.

The two fixtures at Daejeon World Cup Stadium last season resulted in Citizen victories, a 4-3 thriller in June, Daejeon's 200th victory, before a 2-0 win in torrential rain at the beginning of August.

There have been nine meetings between these two clubs, Daejeon have five victories, Suwon three and one draw but Daejeon have never beaten Suwon on their own patch.

Team News

Forward Park Inhyeok is available for selection again after the former Hoffenheim man was forced to sit out Daejeon's defeat to Seongnam at the weekend through suspension.

For Suwon, youngster Cho Yoomin will miss out through suspension after the Korea U23 international was dismissed during Suwon's 5-0 defeat away to Gwangju last weeked. Matheus Alves will be available again, however, having served his suspension after picking up his third yellow of the season during the 1-0 win over Busan IPark two rounds ago. In terms of injuries, Australian centre back is out due to a foot injury that has kept the New South Wales native out since round four.

The Adversary

Suwon FC were tipped by some to be up there challenging for the K League 2 title, and yet they still might, but at present things aren't quite going to plan for the city's second club. Despite some marquee signings during the winter, Suwon find themselves in the lower reaches of the K2 and in desperate need of a lift.

Suwon FC's Kim Daeui (R) is in his debut season as a K League manager. (Image via K League)

Formation wise, Kim Daeui opted for a 4-3-3 formation of sorts from rounds one to seven before altering things slightly and fielding a 3-5-2 for the 1-0 win over Busan IPark at home in round seven before sticking with the back three in a 3-4-3 for the 5-0 loss away to Gwangju. Suwon have only played at home three times this season, a 1-0 win over Seoul E-Land on the opening day, a 4-1 loss to Seongnam in round three and the aforementioned win over Busan one but round ago. Not too dissimilar to his opposite number Ko Jongsoo, Coach Kim is not adverse to making wholesale changes after a bad result meaning the the starting XI that will take the field this Sunday could look a lot different to that of last weekend. Coach Kim has also named five different captains and so on-field leadership may be an issue as the result of Kim's axe wielding.

Who To Watch

Suwon FC

For the home side, Suwon of course have an array of talent at their disposal, which it makes it all the more surprising that the 2015 Playoff winners aren't in and amongst the upper reaches of the K League 2 table at present. Daejeon fans will of course have fond memories of Kim Dongchan, who now sports the blue and red stripes of Suwon FC, but the 2016 K League Challenge MVP hasn't featured of late.

Matheus Alves has played all but one of  Suwon's games this season. (Image via K League)

One man who has been almost ever present for Suwon, however, is Brazilian forward Matheus Alves. The 24-year-old had a spell with Gangwon during the 2016 promotion winning season, bagging 12 goals in 32 appearances. Alves has only found the net once this term, a consolation goal against Seongnam during the 4-1 home defeat, but Suwon's number 23 definitely has the quality to add more to his tally.

Daejeon Citizen

For Daejeon, Romanian forward Aurelian Chițu is a player who could be one to watch come Sunday. The 27-year-old notched his first Citizen goal at the weekend and so will be keen to get on the score sheet again sooner rather than later. The Romanian, who comes with a ringing endorsement from fellow compatriot and ex-Citizen defender Jean-Claude Bozga, surprised many by joining the Purples and, after being integrated into the team slowly, is starting to show signs that he settling into life at Purple Arena. Primarily a wide forward, Chițu can play centrally due to his stature but with the much-favoured Park Inhyeok available again, the former Viitorul man may move to the flank.

Chițu (left) in action for Daejeon during their 1-1 draw with Anyang. (Image via K League)

Prediction

Neither side will be feeling particularly confident heading into this one, more so Suwon who may take a more cautious approaching having shipped five goals last time out. Daejeon, on the other hand, don't travel well and fledgling gaffer Ko Jongsoo still appears to be getting to grips with life as a manager and indeed his sizeable squad. A draw wouldn't be too farfetched of a result.

Suwon FC 1-1 Daejeon Citizen