Recap: Jeju United 0-1 Suwon Bluewings

Suwon Bluewings came to the island on Saturday afternoon for a match with Jeju United.  Both teams have struggled with inconsistency so far this season, but Jeju even more so, as they were blanked on their home turf for already the third time this season.  Suwon played by far its best league match of the season overall and walked away deserving winners.  Dejan Damjanovic was everywhere in the attacking third and easily should have had more than the strike he put away in the fifteenth minute which turned out to be the difference in the match.

(Photo courtesy of jeju-utd.com)


Jeju entered the match looking to build off a win coming against Ulsan Hyundai in the previous round, while Suwon had settled for a draw against Pohang.  It was the visitors who were by far the more dangerous side from the opening whistle, as they dictated the tempo and had the better of the chances early on.

There were a few changes in the starting eleven to begin the match for Jeju, as Magno Cruz was pushed back into a supporting role in midfield with two strikers up front in Roberson and Lee Eun-beom.  The hope was that a three-pronged attack up front would be able to put more pressure on the Suwon back line.

Before the match kicked off, a minute of silence was held for the victims of the April 3rd Massacre, which happened on Jeju seventy years ago, and which resulted in the deaths of ten per cent of the island's population.  Its meaning to the people who have lived on the island runs deep and is a matter of contention up to the present day.

Jeju were on the back foot right from the go, as Suwon looked to find an advantage early.  They would find the break they needed when Dejan Damjanovic found enough space in the area between two defenders to convert his chance from in close, with a sneaky little knock that found its way into the back of the net past Lee Chang-geun just after a quarter of an hour.

It looked like Dejan had a second just before the half hour, but the goal was called back as he was adjudged to have committed a foul on one of Jeju's defenders.

Jeju tried to climb back into the match, but as has been the case several times already this season, luck did not shine on them, and Suwon managed to keep the advantage going into the break.

The beginning of the second half saw the introduction of injury-time goal hero against Ulsan Ryu Seung-woo for Lee Eun-beom, who was taken off because of upcoming U23 duty.

Suwon sat back with five defenders for much of the half, trying to hit on the counter.  Not much of consequence happened before the hour mark, and Suwon looked comfortable with how proceedings had played out, with Jeju unable to break through offensively, due in large part to Lee Chang-min not being in the starting eleven, as he was rested for much of the match because of his inclusion in the South Korean national team over the international break.

Lee finally did enter the match in the 76th minute, replacing Lee Dong-su, and for a moment, it looked as if Jeju would be able to salvage at least a draw.  Nonetheless, Suwon was able to hold the fort and secure the full three points, moving them up to seven points in the league table but remaining in fifth spot, while Jeju remain on four points and drop to eighth.

Teams

Manager: Cho Sung Hwan

Substitutes: Ryu Seung-woo for Lee Eun-beom (46'); Thiago Marques for Roberson (66'); Lee Chang-min for Lee Dong-soo (76'); Hwang Do-yeon; Jong Da-hooeon; Park Han-keun; Lee Chan-dong

Manager: Seo Jung-won

Substitutes: Waguininho for You Joo-ahn (59'); Koo Ja-ryong for Cho Won-hee (73'); Yeom Ki-hun for Lim Sang-hyub (80'); Cho Ji-hoon; Kim Min-ho; No Dong-geun; Kim Joon-hyung

Referee: Kim Dae-yong

Assistants: Yoon Kwang-yeol, Jang Jong-pil

Fourth Official: Oh Hyun-jin

Attendance: 2,981

Champions League Coming Up

Both teams will now focus their energies on upcoming matches in the Champions League this week, with Suwon looking to secure qualification from Group F as they host FC Sydney, who they beat by 2-0 on Matchday One.  They are only one point off the pace, now set by Kashima Antlers.

Jeju, meanwhile, travel to Osaka hoping to get a result to save their campaign when they take on Cerezo, in hopes of exacting some revenge for the 1-0 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Japanese side to open the competition this year.  Only a victory would give United any hope of advancing.