Preview: Suwon FC vs Daejeon Citizen

Unbeaten in 11, Daejeon Citizen head to Castle Park this Saturday to take on a Suwon FC side struggling for form. The Purples were the victors the last time these two sides met in Suwon and, with Kim Daeui's side on a run of six straight defeats, will be gunning for another three points as Ko Jongsoo's side continue their march towards the playoffs. 
(image via K League)

Overview

from Soccerway

Last Time Out

Suwon FC 0-3 Busan IPark

Suwon's chances of making the playoffs took another huge blow this Saturday when Kim Daeui's men fell to a 3-0 home defeat to fourth-placed Busan IPark.

Suwon fell behind as early as the fourth minute when goalkeeper, Kim Dasol, failed to get a strong enough hand on Kim Songseop's sliding effort. Promising wing-back, and recent full Korean international, Kim Moonhwan, laid the ball short to Koo Hyeonjun who sent in a left-footed cross towards the edge of the six yard box. Kim Songseop, sliding in, made contact with the outside of his right boot, forcing Suwon custodian Kim Dasol to get a hand to the ball but was unable to prevent the visitors from taking the lead.

Kim Dasol redeemed himself later with a couple of decent saves as his side pressed for an equaliser. Just shy of the interval, Suwon had a golden opportunity to draw level when Kim Byeomyong played the ball back across goal to Mo Jaehyun only for the 22 year-old to send his cushioned volleyed effort wide.

The miss proved to be costly for Suwon as, just two minutes later, Busan doubled their advantage. Rômulo sent a beautifully weighted pass into the feet of Shin Youngjun deep into Suwon's half, Shin's cut-back found Kim Jingyu who dummied for Rômulo. The Brazilian's shot was well-saved by Kim Dasol but the former Pohang 'keeper was unable to prevent Kim Jingyu from firing in the rebound to give IPark a 2-0 half time lead.

In the second period Suwon introduced Alex Alves and Alex Bruno with the latter forcing a couple of saves from Koo Sangmin in between the sticks for IPark. But, just after the hour mark, Busan found a third with the scorer of Busan's second, Kim Jingyu, turning provider. The 21 year-old out-muscled Suwon defender Hwang Dohyeon before teeing up Rômulo whose left-footed strike duly found the top corner.

Highlights: here

Daejeon Citizen 2-1 Asan Mugunghwa

Daejeon came back from a goal behind to steal a huge win against the police as the Purples look set to secure a playoff place. A mishit back-pass by midfielder Shin Hakyoung from the touchline played in Asan striker Kim Hyun, the on-loan Jeju man steadied himself before finding the bottom corner to give Asan a 35th minute lead. Daejeon, though, refused to give up and remained organised, sticking to their shape and pressed Asan, forcing them into making mistakes.

Eventually, the Purples drew themselves level thanks to an audacious Panenka penalty kick by home-coming boy wonder Hwang Inbeom. Romanian forward Aurelian Chitu went down towards the byline, causing referee Chae Sanghyeop to point to the spot, despite the Asan protests. Hwang Inbeom stepped up against long-time teammate Park Juwon, on loan from Daejeon, to delicately chip the ball into the back of the net 10 minutes from time.

Five minutes later and Asan were a man down, goalscorer Kim Hyun paying the penalty for an off-the-ball elbow into the middrift of Purples defender Ko Myeongseok. After which there was only going to be one winner and, after an onslaught of attacks, the hosts got their just rewards. Park Sooil, operating from right full-back, got himself into a good position on the right-hand side before sending in a low, teasing cross towards the six-yard box. Striker Park Inhyeok cleverly dummied, leaving the ball for Shohruh Gadeov who tapped in from point blank range. Cue delirium in the stands and on the Purples' bench.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

The last two meetings between these two sides have both come at Purple Arena with each side claiming a victory each. In early September the Purples emerged as the victors in a 1-0 win thanks to a header from defender Ko Myeongseok. However, two months earlier, it was Kim Daeui's Suwon who left with the lion's share of the spoils following a 2-0 win with goals from Jung Woogeun and Lee Jaeahn.

However, the last time Daejeon made the trip to Castle Park, the Purples left with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Shohruh Gadoev and Park Inhyeok early in the second half, each benefiting from a Park Jaewoo assist from right full-back. Matteus Alves pulled a goal for Suwon back in the dying embers but proved to be mere scant consolation.

There have been just 12 meetings between Daejeon Citizen and Suwon FC. Citizen have seven wins to their name, Suwon four and just one draw. Daejeon's 200th win came following a 4-3 victory at Purple Arena in July 2017, Cristian Dănălache with a late, late winner.

Team News

Suwon will have Cho Yoomin back from suspension, the Asian Games gold medalist had missed the home defeat to Busan after picking up his sixth yellow of the season during the 2-1 reverse to Asan. Fellow central defender Adrian Leijer has returned to Korea following a spell of rehabilitation in his native Australia on a broken foot sustained during Suwon's 1-0 win over Seoul E-Land in late June. However, whether the former Melbourne Victory man will be available for Saturday's game remains a major doubt.

Daejeon don't have any suspensions to worry about but midfielder Hwang Inbeom will be unavailable due to the 21 year-old's involvement in the Korean National Team's friendly match with Uruguay on Friday. Instead, Kang Yunsung could move back into the centre of midfield from left wing along side Sanzhar Tursanov with Shin Hakyoung expected to be dropped following his error that lead to Kim Hyun's goal for Asan last week. Fellow Uzbek international, Shohruh Gadoev, came off the bench to fire in a late winner against Asan and could slot in on the left-hand side of Daejeon's front three along side Aurelian Chițu and Park Inhyeok.

The Adversary

Suwon FC  host Daejeon having lost their last six, a run of form that has given Kim Daeui's side only the slightest of chances of making the playoffs this term. Prior to which, however, Suwon were on an impressive run of five unbeaten with four wins and a draw and not a single goal conceded.

Formation-wise Kim Daeui has predominately to a 4-3-3 formation, through the winless run and even prior to. Before the run of six straight defeats Suwon were on an unbeaten run of five, winning four and drawing one whilst keeping five cleansheets in the process. During that spell the back four and goalkeeper had remained largely unchanged with Kim Dasol in goal, Kim Beomyong and left back, a centre back pairing of Hwang Dohyeon and either Cho Yoomin or the experienced Cho Byungkuk, with winger-turned full-back Lee Seunghyun at right back.

In fact, throughout the side Kim Daeui has remained loyal to a group of 21 players who have been chosen to start. During the five game unbeaten run just 15 different players started for Suwon, during the winless run that Suwon now find themselves in, Kim Daeui has rotated his goalkeeper once with Park Hyungsoon stepping in for the round 28 home defeat to Ansan Greeners, Kim Daeho and former Daejeon Citizen man Cho Sangbeom have both been tried at left back, Alex has operated as either a left sided midfielder in a three or on the right side of a front three. Mo Jaehyun has played centrally in the midfield three or on the left side of a front three, Lee Jaeahn has been tried at left wing, centre forward, and in the centre of midfield, Han Sangwoon has operated on both the left and right side of midfield, Jung Sungjae as a central midfielder or right winger and Kwon Yonghyun has been tried on the right side of midfield or on the right side of the a front three.

One other thing that has been a constant for Suwon FC this season, and to their detriment, is the lack of a potent goalscorer. Sueon are the lowest scoring team in the division with just 24 goals scored from 31 games. Both Seoul E-Land in tenth, and Ansan Greeners in ninth have scored more with 28 and 29 respectively. But, when Suwon do score, the majority of their goals have come in the last fifteen minutes of each half, 25% in the first and 29% in the second.

Suwon FC Starting XI vs Busan IPark K League 2 Round 31

Who To Watch

Viana

Fernando Viana arrived at Suwon during the summer transfer window and, since his debut against Ansan Greeners, during which he bagged a late winner, has gone on to make 10 appearances and score five goals. four of which came during Suwon's purple patch of form, winning four out of fives games.

Prediction

Daejeon's 1-1 draw with Ansan Greeners may have been enough to prompt manager, Ko Jongsoo, to take a more conservative approach - to protect what they have rather than really go for the top two. But, as Ko was in his playing days, the word conservative isn't really in the former Bluewings midfielder's vocabulary. His team will keep fighting to the end regardless. Evidence of this can be seen in recent comeback victories over Gwangju and league leaders, Asan Mugunghwa. Against Gwangju, Daejeon levelled in stoppage time yet still pressed for a winner. Similarly, during the 2-1 home win over the police, Daejeon were far from content with merely settling for a draw and went on to find a last minute winner. Heading into Saturday's game to take on a side on a run of form quite like Suwon's, Citizen will be going there for the win.

Prediction: Suwon FC 1-2 Daejeon Citizen