Super Match Preview: FC Seoul vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings

FC Seoul host bitter rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings this Sunday evening in K League 1 Round 15 ahead of the second Super Match of the 2019 season. Choi Youngsoo's FC Seoul side sit in third and firmly in the title race whilst the Bluewings, after a sluggish start, have begun to climb up the table. Suwon will make the short trip to the capital hoping to pick up their first K League Super Match win since 2015, some 14 matches ago. Seoul, on the other hand, will be keen to keep up with the leaders.

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Gyeongnam FC 1-2 FC Seoul

A late Osmar strike deep into stoppage time, the Spaniard’s second in successive matches, earned FC Seoul a vital away win in Changwon against Kim Jongboo's Gyeongnam FC. After 87 goalless minutes the game suddenly sprung to life when Park Chuyoung fired the visitors into the lead with a glancing header from Kim Hangil’s cross from the left-hand side.

However, the hosts soon pegged Seoul back, levelling just three minutes later through Lee Youngjae. But, after scoring his first FC Seoul goal since October 2017 during the 3-1 home win over Seongnam just a few days before, Osmar turned in Park Chuyoung’s low cut-back first time to seal the points for Choi Yongsoo’s side.

Highlights: here

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-1 Gangwon FC

The Bluewings extended their unbeaten run to three matches with a 1-1 draw at home to Gangwon FC, despite falling behind early on. Striker Uroš Đerić gave the visitors the lead with just seven minutes on the clock with his fourth of the campaign before Han Euikwon levelled midway through the second half for the Bluewings, getting onto the end of a Hong Chul cross.

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

The first Super Match of the season had no shortage of drama and excitement, despite both sides having to settle for a point. Former FC Seoul fan favourite Dejan Damjanović came off the bench for Suwon to fire the hosts in front just shy of the hour mark, finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box following Elvis Sarić's layoff.

Seoul thought they had pegged the Bluewings back when Yun Jutae turned in a loose ball inside the box, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside. Another chance for the capital club to level came via the penalty spot in the 87th minute when Park Chuyoung was brought down just inside the box by Kim Jongwoo. Park stepped up to take but his spot kick was parried away by Noh Donggeon.

However, the veteran striker had another chance to peg Seoul level when Go Yohan was brought down by goalkeeper Noh Donggeon after a well worked free kick. This time there was no mistake by Park who fired in a late, late equaliser to see the spoils shared.

Match Report: here

Bluewings haven't been able to beat FC Seoul in the league since April 2015, a 5-1 demolition at Big Bird with Yeom Kihun on target along with a brace each for Chong Tese and Lee Sangho, Molina for Seoul. However, at Sangam, Suwon's last win dates back to October 2014 when a Roger strike on 56 minutes proved to be the distance between the two sides.

As FC Seoul versus Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Sunday's Super Match will be the 61st in all competitions. From the previous 60 meetings, Suwon have 23 wins to Seoul's 22 and 15 draws. In the capital, in 31 meetings, Seoul have 13 wins to Suwon's nine and nine draws.

Team News

FC Seoul will be without Cho Youngwook due to the 19 year-old forward's involvement in the FIFA U20 World Cup Final in Poland. Ha Daesung remains a long term doubt having picked up a calf injury during the 2-0 win over Sangju at the tail end of March. Elsewhere, Kim Wonkyun has struggled with injuries and hasn't featured since coming off in the 33rd minute away to Pohang Steelers on 25th May. Kim Wonsik has slotted into the back three to deputise for former Korea University defender Kim Wonkyun. Meanwhile, fellow centre back Kim Namchun is also a doubt having not featured for the first team since Seoul's 1-0 home reverse to Incheon United in November 2018. Seoul do not have any players ruled out through suspension but wing-back Ko Kwangmin is one booking away from a ban.

FC Seoul starting lineup versus Gyeongnam FC, K League 1 Round 14.

The Adversary

A three-game unbeaten run has seen Suwon Bluewings quietly creep closer to the top half of the table over recent weeks and they are now just three points away from Sangju Sangmu in 5th spot. That run has been built off of two clean sheets and the Bluewings have been a much tougher opponent to break down since young centre-back Ko Myeong-seok returned to the team on the 26th of May. The 23 year-old hadn't seen any game time since the 4-0 mauling at the hands of Jeonbuk Hyundai back in early March but he has been a revelation since his return to the team. With only one goal conceded in games against Daegu FC, Pohang Steelers and Gangwon FC, Suwon look to have solved their defensive problems they had in the absence of Jo Sung-jin.

It's now 14 league games since Suwon last beat Seoul and they will be looking to avenge that draw last time out. They came agonisingly close to the win and, if not for some controversial refereeing decisions, could have come away with a win they probably deserved. Lee Lim-saeng isn't one for heavy rotation so a lot of the same faces will be playing in the second Super Match of the season and revenge will be surely be in their minds.

Hong Chul, Elvis Sarić and Adam Taggart all had some game time this week when they joined up with their respective national teams, but all have returned back to the club unscathed and in line to start this match. However, Koo Ja-ryoung limped out of the last game with a serious looking injury. The club haven't revealed to what extent the defender is injured but Koo will be a doubt for this game. Youngster Jeon Se-jin is still away with the Korean U20 team and will also be unavailable for this game. As too will be Jo Sung-jin who remains sidelined with an injury.
by Scott Whitelock

Suwon Bluewings lineup versus Gangwon FC, K League 1 Round 14.

ICYMI: #KLUPod Featuring Dejan and Osmar ahead of the 5th May 2019 Super Match

What To Watch

Osmar vs Dejan

Close friends off the field but come Sunday, in front of what is expected to be a bumper crowd at Seoul World Cup Stadium, the battle between Osmar Ibáñez Barba and Dejan Damjanović will be an intriguing one. The pair were teammates for two seasons following Dejan's return to K League after a three-year spell in China with Jiangsu Sainty (now Jiangsu Suning) and Beijing Guoan, during which the pair lifted the K League title in 2016. Since joining Suwon, Dejan has two goals against his former employers but is yet to taste victory in a blue shirt. In 2019 Dejan has three goals, two assists and has also been credited with 12 shot assists.

For Seoul's last two matches, with Lee Woonghee and Kim Wonkyun out, Osmar has dropped into the back three to operate as a left-sided centre back with Jung Hyeoncheol as the holding midfielder. Therefore, should Osmar continue to operate from Choi Yongsoo's favoured back three, and Dejan partnering Adam Taggart in 3-4-1-2/3-4-3 as per the 1-1 draw with Gangwon, the pair are poised to go toe-to-toe. Dejan likes to drop deep and help with build up play, whilst Osmar is known for playing out from the back and trying to dictate play from deep.

Prediction

FC Seoul head into the weekend's fixtures just two points behind league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and on a run of six games unbeaten - a stretch which began with the dramatic Children's Day 1-1 draw at Big Bird on 5th May. Prior to the international break, Seoul showed great character to get over the line away to Gyeongnam having scored yet another decisive goal in the last 10 minutes of matches, the difference between sitting in third on 31 points and just two points off top spot, or in fifth and eight points off the pace. Seoul's belief and team spirit has been enough to get them over the line in a number of matches this season and that may well be something the capital club will rely on to get one over their bitter rivals come Sunday.


See also: K League 1 Round 15 Preview