Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs Suwon FC

Unbeaten throughout the whole of August with three wins and two draws to boast of, Daejeon Citizen are now very much in the playoff hunt. Up next for the Purples is the home visit of another side who have similar promotion aspirations, Suwon FC. Suwon's win over Busan IPark caused quite the stir, announcing their arrival in the race for the top four once and for all. Daejeon will know that a win over Suwon would see them leapfrog their Gyeonggi Province counterparts but Suwon have beaten Daejeon at Purple Arena once already this term.
(image via K League)

Overview

from Soccerway

Last Time Out

Daejeon Citizen 1-0 Ansan Greeners

The Purples picked up their first ever win over Ansan Greeners with a 1-0 win at Purple Arena last Sunday. Aurelian Chițu's spot kick proved to be enough to separate the two sides and indeed ensure that Ko Jongsoo's Daejeon Citizen side went through the entirety of August unscathed, amassing 11 points from a total of 15 available. Uzbek international midfielder Shanzhah Tursnanov's attempt on goal struck the arm of Greeners defender Song Juhoo whilst attempting to thwart the 31 year-old from landing a shot on target. The referee allowed play to continue but as soon as it became apparent that the Purples didn't have the advantage, the man in the middle, Chae Sanghyeop, pointed to the spot. Up stepped Chițu who coolly slotted the ball home to give the Purples the win. The result also meant that Citizen are now just three points behind fourth place Suwon heading into Monday's match.

Highlights here

Busan IPark 0-1 Suwon FC

A Baek Sungdong strike in the 15th minute ensured that Kim Daeui's Suwon side made the long trip back to Suwon with all three points whilst subsequently easing their way into the promotion picture. A freekick was awarded on the left-hand touchline for Baek Sungdong to attempt an in-swinging cross. The 2014 Asian Games Gold Medalist's cross teased its way into the box before bouncing straight into the far corner. Suwon's win moved them up to fourth and four points behind third placed Busan IPark.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

Daejeon Citizen have played host for Monday night football to Suwon FC once already this term, suffering a 2-0 defeat in July. Jung Woogeun and Lee Jaeahn gave Suwon a 2-0 win, payback for the 2-1 reverse on their own patch in April. Citizen picked up their second successful victory over Suwon in April, easing past a then-struggling Suwon side with a 2-1 win. Shohruh Gadoev and Park Inhyeok for Citizen before Bruno netted a late consolation goal with what proved to be the last kick of the game.

Last season Daejeon and Suwon both won two games a-piece; at Purple Arena Citizen saw off Suwon with 2-0 and 4-3 wins.

In total, the two clubs have met just 11 times with Daejeon leading the way with six victories compared to Suwon's four and one draw.

Team News

Daejeon Citizen gaffer Ko Jongsoo doesn't have any of his players ruled out through suspension although the former Purples midfielder does have no fewer than nine players who are just a scribble in a referee's notebook away from a one-match ban. Coach Ko may want to stick with the same team that beat Ansan Greeners last time out; Uzbek international midfielder Sanzhar Tursanov started for the first time and was influential in earning the Purples the decisive spotkick and so will be hoping to keep his place in the team. Goalkeeper Kim Jinyoung, who has been ruled out through injury since June, is said to be stepping up his recovery for a knee injury but isn't expected to feature again this season.

For Suwon, influential centre back Adrian Leijer remains a long term doubt. The Australian picked up a knee injury during the 1-0 win over Seoul E-Land after a clumsy challenge from defender Kim Jaehyeon. Cho Yoomin is also unavailable due to the young centre back's involvement with the Asian Games but manager Kim Daeui has no suspensions to concern himself with for the trip to Daejeon.

The Adversary

Over the summer Suwon FC made some adjustments to their squad. Lee Kwangjin left for Gyeongnam whilst Seo Donghyun and Jung Hoondeparted for Thailand in Chiangmai and PTT Rayong respectively. In came Kwon Younghyun and Cho Byunggook from Gyeongnam, Jang Seongjae from Ulsan, and Lee Sangmin from neighbours Suwon Bluewings as well as Fernando Viana.

Kim Daeui's Suwon were tipped to be one of the front-runners for automatic promotion but a sluggish start to the campaign on account of injuries to key players such as Kim Dongchan, Adrian Leijer and Alex Bruno has meant that those donning the blue and red stripes have had to play catch up somewhat. After shipping 25 goals prior to the World Cup break, an average of 1.75 goals per game over a 17 match stretch but, since thenm, and perhaps partially down to the acquisition of veteran centre half Cho Byunggook from Gyeongnam, Suwon have kept six clean sheets from the seven games in which the 37 year-old has featured, including one against Daejeon at Purple Arena in early July.

In front of goal Suwon had their issues too having scored the second fewest in the league, only Ansan Greeners have a worse goal-scoring record with 20 goals for the campaign compared to Suwon's 21. However, whilst reinforcements were brought in at the back, Kim Daeui swooped to land Brazilian forward, Fernando Viana, who has added some much needed creativity and firepower in the final third. Since the World Cup break, Suwon have the fourth most goals in K League 2 having scored 11 in nine matches. Only Gwangju (15), Busan (13), and Asan (12) have more. The result is a Suwon FC sitting in fourth place with their attentions turned to repeating their playoff winning season in 2015.

Suwon FC Starting XI vs Busan IPark (1-0W)

Who To Watch

Fernando Viana

Viana has four goals from his first five appearances (Image via K League)

Fernando Viana is a name that K League 2 fans will become all-too familiar with by the end of the season, that is if they haven't done so already. The 26-year-old Brazilian was brought in from Al-Dahfra of the Arabian Gulf League over the summer and it is fair to say that the Brasilia-native has hit the ground running. From his first five appearances Viana has netted four goals, four important goals at that. On his debut Viana scored the only goal for the game in a 1-0 away win over Ansan Greeners before netting the opener in the 2-0 home victory over Bucheon a fortnight later. A brace against FC Anyang in a 3-0 triump means that Viana has already cemented himself in Kim Daeui's team as a key player. Viana can score all types of goals, sumptious free kicks, bullet headers, tap ins. If Daejeon are to begin September in the same manner in which they ended August then containing Viana is going to be key.

Prediction

For both teams this match is as big as it comes at present, certainly if the two respective managers harbour playoff hopes. For Suwon, anything less than a win could see them drop out of the top four should results elsewhere go against them. Likewise, should Daejeon fail to win then it can only be considered a missed opportunity for the Purples to put themselves in the promotion fight once and for all. On recent form, though, Daejeon and Suwon are quite evenly matched and so a draw wouldn't be wholly unrealistic.

Daejeon Citizen 1-1 Suwon FC

For a full guide to K League 2 Round 26 visit K League.com here