Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs Ansan Greeners

Still without a win since mid-April, Daejeon Citizen take on Ansan Greeners this Saturday evening in the hope of kickstarting their campaign. The Greeners were on a similar run of form prior to the away win over Jeonnam Dragons last time out and now sit just four points behind the playoffs. However, if Daejeon are to get back on track then the beleaguered side will have to do something which they managed just once before as the Purples have mustered just one win over the Greeners at home in five previous attempts. Columnists Paul Neat and James Walsh preview Saturday's K League 2 clash.

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Bucheon FC 1995 1-1 Daejeon Citizen

Away to Bucheon, Daejeon had to settle for a point despite taking the lead inside two minutes. Park Inhyeok scored his third goal of the season, and first since round two, with a glancing header from Kim Seungseop's right-footed cross from the left-hand side.

The Purples were unable to hold onto the lead heading into the interval with Kim Ryundo levelling with four minutes of the half remaining. The draw meant that Citizen are now on a run of seven games without a win.

Highlights: here

Jeonnam Dragons 1-3 Ansan Greeners

Ansan Greeners ended a run of four games without a win by displacing Jeonnam Dragons by three goals to one, the Green Wolves' second win over the Dragons in 2019. A Kim Kyungmin own goal on 21 minutes broke the deadlock before Park Jinseop made it two on the stroke of half time.

Seven minutes after the restart Kim Jinwook added a third before Dragons' defender Lee Jinam narrowed the deficit with a consolation goal in the dying embers. Jeonnam remain second-bottom, Ansan moved up to sixth.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

These two sides met on the opening day of the campaign, the second time in three seasons. At the Wa~ Stadium on 3rd March, the Purples picked up a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Aurelian Chițu and Yoon Yongho either side of a debut strike from Ansan's Gustavo Vintecinco, who endured an eventful afternoon after also seeing a goal chalked off and receiving a controversial red card.

The most recent meeting at Purple Arena was in August last year when Daejeon edged past the Green Wolves in a 1-0 win, Ko Myeongseok with the only goal on a wet and rainy night in Yuseong.

From nine previous encounters Ansan Greeners can boast of three wins compared to Daejeon's two and four draws. At Purple Arena, the Greeners have two wins, two draws and just one defeat.

Team News

Daejeon Citizen will continue to be without central defender Lee Jisol due to the 19 year-old's involvement in the U20 FIFA World Cup Final against Ukraine on Saturday evening in Poland. Attacking midfielder Kim Seyun is also part of the U20 Korea squad. Fellow midfielder Shin Hakyoung has been ruled out through injury since the draw with Seoul E-Land in mid-May and it is believed that the former Gyeongnam man is likely to return next week. Elsewhere, Park Suchang is suspended after picking up a third yellow for the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Bucheon FC 1995 on 1st June, as is striker Park Inhyeok.

Star striker Aurelian Chițu, whose absence in recent matches has sparked rumours that the Romanian could be heading for the exit door, is back in full training and so could return to the starting lineup as a like-for-like replacement for Park Inhyeok. Alternatively, Park Chul could opt for Yoo Haesung to replace Park Inhyeok whilst Yoon Yongho could be called upon to stand in for Park Suchang.

Since the departure of Ko Jongsoo, caretaker gaffer Park Chul has stuck with the same formation which his predecessor favoured the most, a 4-1-2-3 with two outside forwards. Lee Hobin and Yoon Seonghan both made their league debuts in the 1-1 draw with Bucheon with captain Ahn Sanghyeon missing out through injury and could feature again given the Purples' midfield injury woes.

Daejeon Citizen lineup versus Bucheon FC 1995, K League 2 Round 14.

The Adversary

The Green Wolves are experiencing a season of mixed fortunes to date. Ansan’s latest victory was only the Greeners’ second from their last six since they defeated the same opposition at the beginning of May. Yet despite a lack of consistency in their performances, Lim Wanseop’s men are only four points off Asan Mugunghwa in the division’s final playoff position. The Wa~ faithful have highlighted a possible reason for their team’s erratic form, voicing their concerns over the constant rotation of keepers Hwang InJae and captain, Lee Heeseong, with many believing that Hwang, who has only conceded two in four in the league this term, should be the side’s regular number one.

It would appear that Lim has a big call to make regarding whether to drop his skipper indefinitely, a goalie that has shipped in fourteen from ten in the K League 2 in 2019, which would mean passing the armband on to centre-back, Lee Injae, who is seen as an exemplary marshal at the back and is having a fine campaign thus far. Plenty to ponder for the Ansan gaffer ahead of the trip to the Purple Arena this weekend.
By James Walsh

Ansan Greeners lineup versus Jeonnam Dragons, K League 2 Round 14.

What To Watch

Yoon Shinyoung vs Gustavo Vintecinco 

Yoon Shinyoung (R) has missed just one league match for Daejeon in 2019.

Defensively this term Daejeon Citizen have come up a touch short following the departures of Yoon Junseong to Suwon FC and Ko Myeongseok to Suwon Bluewings. The rest of which meant that Lee Jisol was fast-tracked into the first team at the tender age of just 19, as well as the inexperienced Yoon Kyungbo who, despite being 23, has just 10 senior appearances to his name, has managed to rack up six appearances himself this term. Neither have been able to lock down that left-sided centre back slot and partner the ever-reliable Yoon Shinyoung. Yoon is in his second spell with Daejeon having signed for the Purples in 2015 from Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning. The 32 year-old, who has also had a spell in Japan with J2 side Renofa Yamaguchi, has missed just one league game this season and is proving to be undroppable. 

Yoon is a physical, all action stopper and will be tasked with stopping Ansan Greeners' towering centre forward Gustavo Vintecinco who already has a goal to his name against the Purples. Whoever comes out on top from this particular individual battle may just have the final say in which team picks up all three points come Saturday evening.

Prediction

Daejeon are on a dreary run of form and have managed just one home win all campaign. Ansan have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Purples since their inception in 2017 and so, given Citizen's current circumstances, might be content with a draw. With a few notable absentees for the hosts, and a buoyant Greeners side following the 3-1 win over Jeonnam last time out, Lim Wanseop's men will be seen as the favourites.

See also: K League 2 Round 15 Preview