Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs FC Anyang

Whereas Daejeon Citizen were able to secure their playoff berth with a 3-0 win over Bucheon last week, FC Anyang head to Purple Arena knowing that anything less than a win will not be enough for them to join Citizen in the playoffs. Daejeon ended a run of three straight losses with the aforementioned Bucheon win but Anyang have lost their last two on the bounce and head into Sunday's clash still in the dark as to whether fifth place could earn them a shot at promotion via the playoffs.

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Daejeon Citizen 3-0 Bucheon FC 1995

After three consecutive defeats, Daejeon got back to winning ways thanks to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Bucheon FC 1995 at Daejeon World Cup Stadium. The Purples took the lead in the 22nd minute when Shohruh Gadoev had the time and space to whip in a teasing cross for Aurelian Chițu to nod home at the back post. Then, on 77 minutes Hwang Inbeom sent in a late entry for goal of the season when the Korean international midfielder fired home a superbly struck, right-footed volley into the bottom corner, Gadoev the supplier again. The Uzbek's deep cross landed on the right boot of Hwang Inbeom who finished with aplomb. The victory was sealed three minutes from time when, on as a substitute, youngster Lee Joohyeong pounced on a loose back-pass before rounding former Citizen custodian Lee Changyoung to stroke the ball into an empty net with what was a debut goal for the 20-year-old.

Highlights: here

Asan Mugunghwa 2-1 FC Anyang

The Violets succumbed to a 2-1 away defeat to K League 2 Champions, Asan Mugunghwa, despite taking a late second-half lead, conceding twice in the the dying embers. The police team had a couple of opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half. Their best chance came from a Ju Sejong corner which made its way to Cho Sungjun whose header was cleared off the line by Chae Kwanghoon.

Alas, the two sides went in at the break at 0-0 and the scored stayed that way up until 75th minute when Alex gave Anyang the lead from the penalty spot. After a throw-in from the left, Asan's Ahn Hyeonbeom barged into Choi Jaehoon resulting in referee Kim Doyeon pointing to the spot after VAR had adjudged Ahn to have impeded Choi as he attempted to head the ball. Up stepped the ever-confident Wesley Alex who rolled the ball into the bottom left-hand corner whilst sending Mugunghwa goalkeeper, Yang Hyunmo, the wrong way in the process.

However, just 11 minutes later, Asan gaffer Park Donghyeok substituted Cho Sungjun for Lim Changgyun and within five minutes, the on-loan Suwon FC man had drawn his side level. Lee Myeongjoo teed up Kim on the edge of the box who, first time, sent in a beautifully curling effort into the far corner. Lim nor indeed Asan were finished however and went on to find a winner in time added on. After a scramble in the 18-yard box, the ball fell into the path of Kim Changgyun who struck the ball first time and into the far corner to seal a dramatic win.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

Daejeon are unbeaten against Anyang this season thanks to two wins and a draw. The most recent meeting was in Anyang where an Aurelian Chițu goal gave Citizen a 1-0 win. The last time the Violets made the trip to Purple Arena, the match produced more in the way of goals and excitement. Gadoev and Chițu had the hosts leading by two-goals-to-nil only for Alex to half the deficit with a penalty. Gadoev then found the net three minutes later to restore Daejeon's two-goal cushion. However, in stoppage time, Alex made it 3-2 to ensure a nervy ending to proceedings.

The first meeting in 2018 resulted in a 1-1 draw with Park Suchang levelling for Daejeon in the 83rd minute after Jung Heewoong had given Anyang a 19th minute lead.

Daejeon Citizen and FC Anyang have gone head to head on 15 occasions with Citizen having the slight advantage with six wins to Anyang's four and five draws.

Team News

For the hosts, forward Park Inhyeok will be available for selection again after serving a one-match ban. The 23 year-old picked up his ninth yellow of the campaign during the 2-0 reverse away to Seongnam in round 34. Shohruh Gadoev started on the left-hand side for the Purples' 3-0 home victory over Bucheon and laid on two assists. Tursanov may make on the right flank way despite a solid showing.

Daejeon have no suspensions to worry about but Ko Jongsoo does have a handful of his first team who are one yellow away from a ban. Hwang Inbeom, Hwang Jaehoon, Shanzhah Tursanov, and Kang Yunsung are all on two yellows and could miss the Purples' first playoff encounter should they receive a third against Anyang.

The Adversary

FC Anyang will make the relatively short trip south to Daejeon unsure whether a result at Purple Arena will be enough to send them into the playoffs along with Citizen. It was announced this week that Asan Mugunghwa have until 19th November to put forward a recruitment plan for next year, a week extension from the original deadline of the final matchday of the regular 2018 season.

The knock-on effect of the delay is that Daejeon Citizen's opponents this Sunday, FC Anyang, as well as Gwangju, and to a lesser extent Suwon FC, won't know their own fate should they secure fifth place. Should Asan Mugunghwa be prevented from gaining promotion the consensus is that, as per 2016 when Ansan Mugunghwa won the K League Challenge title, the team which finishes in second would then be granted automatic promotion and the playoff places taken up by the teams in third, fourth, and fifth.

Anyang, though, will feel as though a result at Purple Arena is not beyond their capabilities. The Violets have six wins, a draw and just three defeats from their last 10 outings. During this run, Anyang gaffer Ko Jeongwoon has largely stuck to a 4-4-2 formation with the exception of the 3-0 win over Asan Mugunghwa at home in round 26, and the 1-1 draw with Seongnam at home in round 28, when Anyang lined up in a 3-4-3. In a 4-4-2, Anyang picked up 15 points from a possible 24.

Personnel wise, when playing a front two, Alex has often been deployed alongside Kim Wonmin or Kim Kyungjun or with Jung Heewoong and Kim Wonmin in the hole when playing as a front three. Mainstays of the team are goalkeeper Jeon Suhyun, centre backs Lee Sangyong and Kim Youngchan. Marcos and Choi Jaewon are, along with Jung Woonghee, are amongst the players with the most minutes for the Violets this season.

Gwangju FC sit in fifth, two points clear of Anyang and have a superior goals-scored record with 47 compared to the Violets' 42. Anything less than a win would ensure Gwangju securing fifth place and so a nothing-to-lose mentality may well be enough to spur Anyang on.

FC Anyang starting XI vs Asan Mugunghwa R35

Who To Watch

FC Anyang - Wesley Alex

Five of Alex's 14 goals in 2018 have come from the spot

Wesley Alex is Anyang's dangerman and has proved to be a shrewd signing for the Violets since returning from Seoul E-Land over the winter. The Brazilian is second-top scorer in K League 2 with 14, just one behind Gwangju's Na Sangho and so the golden boot race may well come down to whether it's Anyang or Gwangju who snatch fifth place.

The former Goyang and Daegu man has made the most key passes amongst the Anyang squad with 36 and also has four assists to his name. Five of Alex's goals have been from the spot, including two in Daejeon's 3-2 win over Anyang at Purple Arena in May.

Daejeon Citizen - Shohruh Gadoev

Gadoev picked up two assists during Daejeon's 3-0 win over Bucheon last week

Uzbek midfielder Shohruh Gadoev had found himself relegated to the bench and mainly utilised as an impact before being recalled for the 3-0 win over Bucheon. Suspension to Park Inhyeok allowed Gadoev to start on the left-hand side of Daejeon's front three, compatriot then Sanzhar Tursunov shifted to the right.

The decision to recall Gadoev proved to be a good one for Purples gaffer Ko Jongsoo as the Uzbek international laid on two assists, the first for Aurelian Chițu's back-post header with a perfectly weighted cross, and the second stemming from an eye of a needle cross field ball from the left flank to find Hwang Inbeom at the edge of the box. Gadoev has eight goals for Daejeon, four assists and 23 key passes. Gadoev has had the most shots for Daejeon this season with 66, 26 of which were on target - the third highest in the Daejeon squad.

Prediction

Daejeon don't need to win this game, their playoff berth was secured last week, but momentum will be key heading into the playoffs. A number of key players are on two yellows, most notably star player Hwang Inbeom, so it will be interesting to see how Coach Ko approaches the game. Daejeon have only drawn seven matches this term, the third lowest in the division. A former attacking midfielder himself, Ko tends not to set his side out to settle for a point and may even risk starting Hwang Inbeom. Furthermore, the comprehensive win over Bucheon will have done wonders for the team's confidence and will feel as though a second home win in a row is the very least they should be doing.

Anyang, on the other hand, simply have to win. The atmosphere amongst the Anyang players may well be a little strange given that their fate isn't even in their own hands. However, this could be an advantage as the Violets simply have nothing to lose. Alex has six goals in his last eight appearances and will be determined to stake a claim for the golden boot being just one behind Na Sangho at the top of the K2 goal scoring charts. That said, home win.

Daejeon Citizen 3-1 FC Anyang