Super Match Recap: FC Seoul 4-2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings

A brace each from Osmar and Pešić, who now leads the golden boot race, gave FC Seoul a 4-2 win over bitter rivals Suwon Bluewings in what was an explosive and enthralling second Super Match of 2019. Han Euikwon and Adam Taggart were on target for the Bluewings but the defeat extends Suwon's Super Match winless run to 15 league meetings.


In rich goalscoring form, Osmar put FC Seoul with 10 minutes on the clock following a superbly struck free-kick from distance before Han Euikwon equalised five minutes later for the visitors, sweeping home Elvis Sarić’s teasing cutback from the left.

Seoul regained the lead through the Aleksandar Pešić, the Serbian slotting the ball past Noh Donggeun first time from a Go Yohan ball around the corner. The hosts doubled their advantage through Osmar who fired in a sumptuous, right-footed volley from 18 yards out, the Spaniards fourth in three matches.

But, to put further daylight between the two teams, Pešić bagged his ninth of the campaign by slotting the ball past Blueiwngs 'keeper Noh in a similar vein to his first - this time Alibaev with the assist from a clever through-ball.

Australian international striker Adam Taggart pulled a goal back for the Bluewings with what proved to be mere scant consolation in time added on.

Choi Yongsoo stuck with the same team which edged past Gyeongnam FC prior to the international break with Park Chuyoung partnering Pešić up front whilst Osmar kept his place as a left-sided centre back and Jung Hyeoncheol anchoring the midfield.

For the Bluewings, manager Lee Limsaeng shifted from a midfield diamond to two up front and Choi Sungjun as the holding midfielder. Adam Taggart, fresh from his cameo appearance for the Socceroos in Busan against South Korea, had to make do with a place on the bench, two-in-two Han Euikwon preferred to partner Dejan Damjanović instead.

First Half

In front of a bumper crowd, 32,000 strong, the second Super Match of 2019 began at break-neck speed with both teams looking to get on the front foot. For what was Suwon's first real foray into the Seoul half, Han Euikwon earned a corner with four minutes on the clock . After comments made in the press at the Super Match media day, Han’s every touch was met with a chorus of boos from the Sangam faithful. The resulting corner was tame and Seoul were able to clear their lines.

After some patient build-up play, which began with a Jung Hyeoncheol interception and ball into Osmar, just a few minutes later and Seoul had an excellent chance to take the lead; a cross from the left was picked up by Yoon Jonggyu but the young wing-back just couldn’t keep his shot down. Shooting from distance, though, a sign of what was to come.

Dejan, a man who will forever be synonymous with the Super Match, picked the ball up on the half way line and began to charge at the Seoul back line with real intent. The Montenegrin was under pressure from Go Yohan but was able to get a decent shot underway, narrowly turning the ball wide of Yoo Sanghoon’s right-hand post.

But, no sooner had Dejan skewed the ball wide, the hosts had managed to find an early lead after winning a free kick in a dangerous position. Bluewings defender Ko Myeongseok had brought down Park Chuyoung, Park himself along with Alibaev and Osmar were all stood over the ball 25 yards from goal.

Despite Park Chuyoung, FC Seoul's usual free-kick taker, gesticulating, Osmar lined up the free kick and, left-footed, the Spaniard found the top corner with an absolute rocket, straight and true into the top corner, cue delirium and pyro from behind the goal. Despite operating as a centre back, Osmar was on three goals in Seoul's last three matches.

Osmar (R) celebrates giving FC Seoul the lead with Park Chuyoung.

Celebrations were relatively short-lived, however, as it didn’t take long for the score to be level. After some tidy passing on the left touchline, Dejan played the ball around the corner to Elvis Sarić who then laid the ball across to Han Euikwon who, firs time, sent a teasing low cross towards the edge of the six-yard box where Han Euikwon, despite having Osmar breathing down his neck, was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net. Much like Osmar, Han’s goal was his third in his last three outings.

Han Euikwon (R) celebrates levelling the score.

At 1-1 Suwon looked the better team and really ought to have put themselves in front on 25 minutes when former Daejeon Citizen and Asan Mugunghwa forward Han Euikwon had an excellent opportunity to turn the game on its head.

But, after picking the ball up in the channel between Seoul centre backs Osmar and Kim Wonsik from Yeom Kihun's perfectly weighted through-ball, 12 yards out and at a slight angle, Han's shot was wayward and went blazing past Yoo Sanghoon's left-hand upright. A huge let off for FC Seoul and somewhat of a turning point for the Bluewings.

Heading towards the half hour mark and the game struggled to get back to the same tempo which it produced in the first fifteen minutes, both teams seemed somewhat content to catch their breath after the explosive start.

And so after a half volley from Dejan and a speculative long range strike from Jung Hyeoncheol, the two teams went in at the break level.

Second Half

At the interval Suwon made a change, Adam Taggart was brought on to replace Choi Sungjun. The Australian international joined Dejan upfront with Han Euikwon initially moving inside into the number 10 position.

And within just a couple of minutes of coming on Taggart had a decent opportunity to give the Bluewings the lead, but the former Perth Glory and Brisbane Road striker’s sliding effort was just a touch wide of the left-hand from Noh Donggeun's goal kick.

Moments later and Suwon had another chance to take the lead, this time through Dejan who had his best chance of the match so far. The 38 year-old struck the foot of the post from the edge of the box, Suwon beginning to turn the screw and show that they were not willing to settle for a draw.

The pace of the game picked up fifteen or so minutes into the second period, as did the noises levels with both sets of fans in full voice. Seoul were struggling to get a foothold in the game at this point though and were having to make do with some patient sideways passes across the back line, and were limited to little more than an audacious long-ranger from Jung Hyeoncheol and Ikromjon Alibaev

FC Seoul's Ikromjon Alibaev (L) and Suwon Bluewings' Elvis Sarić (R) were influential throughout

On 59 minutes and it was Go Yohan’s turn for a speculative effort, the Seoul captain firing just wide and rippling the side netting, despite the fans behind the goal, and indeed manager Choi Yongsoo, believing that Go's shot and sneaked in the top corner.

However, whilst the one-club man wasn’t able to give Seoul the lead, he was able to play in Pešić who got the hosts' noses in front once again. After Alibaev had carried the ball forward and fed Go Yohan, Seoul's number 13 took a touch before playing a clever ball into the path of Pešić.

The Serbian, who had dropped to second in the K League 1 golden boot race following Kim Shinwook's winner for Jeonbuk away to Incheon on Saturday, struck first time past an on-rushing Noh Donggeon between the sticks for the Bluewings - cue more pyro and thunderous celebrations from behind the goal.

At this stage FC Seoul were very much on top and were keen for a third, Go Yohan in particular seemed hell-bent on getting himself on the scoresheet but to no avail.

On 68 minutes Suwon made their second substitution of the evening, Dejan coming off to be replaced Park Hyeongjin with what is said to be a suspected hamstring strain.

A good chance for the Bluewings came via a freekick in the corner, Sarić stepped up to take left-footed, sending the ball in towards the near post hoping to catch Yoo Sanghoon off guard, but the FC Seoul custodian had the Bosnian international's free-kick well scouted.

Five minutes later and Yoo needed to be alert again, this time as Dejan’s replacement Park Hyeongjin looked to find the back of the net from distance but the shot was gathered up fairly comfortably.

Then on 78 minutes Osmar fired in his second and Seoul’s third with a venomous volley on his right foot. Persistence from Pešić earned the hosts a corner which was subsequently taken short by Park Chuyoung into the feet of Kim Wonsik who tried to send the ball in towards the six-yard box. Kim's cross was nodded clear by striker Adam Taggart but only as far as Ko Kwangmin.

Ko's deflected througball bounced up to Park Chuyoung who nodded the ball onto the right foot of Osmar. The former club captain struck the ball sweetly into the far corner, goalkeeper Noh Donggeun with no chance. Osmar now with four goals in three.

Pešić's brace puts him on top of the K League 1 scoring charts.

The game was out of sight just a few minutes later, Pešić not content for Osmar to have a brace, sent in his second of the night with a well-taken one-on-one. The Serbian now leading the K League golden boot race with nine for the season, Alibaev with a lovely through-ball.

The game wasn’t done there though as Suwon pulled a goal back via Adam Taggart with a well-taken header at the far post in time added o, Sarić with the cross for his second assist of the night.

After three minutes of injury time, on the referee blew for full time on a truly thrilling Super Match, FC Seoul 4-2 Suwon Bluewings.

Lineups

Substitutes: 21 Yang Hanbin, 8 Jung Wonjin, 14 Kim Hangil (Ko Kwangmin 90'), 19 Yun Jutae, 20 Park Junyoung, 28 Hwang Kiwook, 50 Park Dongjin (Pešić 90')

Substitutes: 1 Kim Dasol, 5 Jo Sungjin, 13 Park Hyeongjin (Dejan 68'), 18 Taggart (Choi Sunggeun 46'), 27 Han Seokhee, 28 Yoo Juahn, 77 Ko Seungbeom

Referee: Ko Hyungjin
Assistants: Kwak Seungsoon, Yang Jaeyong
Fourth Official: Kim Yongwoo
Attendance: 32,057

Analysis