Recap: Suwon FC 1-2 Daejeon Hana Citizen

An injury time Park Yong-ji strike got the Hana era for Daejeon Citizen off to a winning start, clinching the three points in a 2-1 victory away to Suwon FC in Round 1 of the 2020 Hana 1Q K League 2 campaign. Lead by decorated manager Hwang Sun-hong, Daejeon came from behind to pick their opening day victory after Andre Luis had cancelled out Ahn Byong-jun's free-kick before Park Yong-ji turned home a late, late winner. 


Coach Hwang opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Bruno Baio as the lone striker, flanked by Kim Seung-seop and Park In-hyeok  - two of only three players in the starting lineup who were with Daejeon last term. There was no place in the squad for Connor Chapman, the Australian was ruled out through injury and so Park Jin-seop and Cho Jae-cheol started as the holding midfielders to make their Purples bow. Meanwhile, Korean international goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun started between the sticks.

For Suwon FC, fledgling gaffer Kim Do-kyun handed debuts to former FC Seoul goalkeeper Yoo Hyun as well as Kim Geon-woong, Danilo, and Marlone.

First Half

At a sodden and soaked Suwon Castle Park , the hosts Suwon FC got the match underway with Ahn Byong-jun taking the kick-off The contest got off to a quick start with the rain helping to add that little bit extra zip to each pass.

Daejeon started the brightest, looking to use wingers Park In-hyeok and Kim Seung-seop to feed Brazilian duo Bruno Baio up top and Andre Luis in the number 10 position. It was clear that Andre was given much license to roam and at times made a front two with compatriot Baio.

The first real sight on goal came for the hosts, former North Korea international forward Ahn Byong-jun steering the ball just wide of the post, a much better effort than his wasted free-kick which was blazed over the bar just a couple of minutes earlier. 

Daejeon had a half chance of their own shortly after, Park Jin-seop scuffing a left-footed shot wide of Yoo Hyun's left-hand post. What was being offered by both teams during the opening exchanges was very similar; plenty of endeavour but without any real incisiveness in the final third. Daejeon's front four not clicking quite yet.

And so it was the hosts who took the lead via a free-kick. Once again taken by Ahn Byong-jun but this time opting to keep his shot low and use the ample surface water to help guide the ball past Kim Dong-jun and into the Daejeon net with 17 minutes on the clock from way out.

After the goal, Suwon were happy to sit back a touch and frustrate Daejeon. The Purples, meanwhile, seemed irked that their early promise had come to nothing.

That was until some industrious play from Park In-hyeok earned his side a corner with 31 minutes played. The former Hoffenheim forward had tried to usher the ball across goal but had to settle for a corner. Stand-in skipper, Cho Jae Cheol's ball in met the head of Lee Woong-hee but the former FC Seoul defender's effort went sailing over the bar. 

Perhaps only a half-chance but Daejeon had woken up from their slumber. Andre Luis in particularly who was a lick of paint away from drawing Daejeon level with another effort on goal not long after.

Then, with 35 minutes played, Daejeon would find their equaliser; Park In-hyeok and Andre combined to draw the Purples level thanks to a nice one-two just inside the box which played in Andre and, with the help of some fortuitous bobbles, the 23-year-old Brazilian calmly slipped the ball past Yoo Hyun in the Suwon goal. 

The rain had cleared at this point but it was evident that the standing surface water was going to continue to play its part. The first booking of the afternoon went to Daejeon's Bruno Baio for a two-footed lunge on Jang Sung-jae, the slippery pitch perhaps meant that the former Jeonnam striker had just about lost control of his challenge. And. other than an extremely speculative effort from Lee Ji-sol for Daejeon, that was the last of the first half action.

Second Half

Suwon FC made a half-time substitution, Mo Jae-hyun coming on in place of Han Jeong-woo at right-wing. Daejeon, meanwhile, remained unchanged. 

The second half began in a frantic manner. Within seconds of the restart, Suwon FC had earned a free-kick and a corner, Daejeon's back line and 'keeper needing to be at the most alert. The visitors were much more assertive in the opening exchanges of the second half, passing was crisper - the equaliser clearly restoring confidence. 

Suwon, meanwhile, had evidently been given instructions to shoot on sight of goal. Kim Do-kyun's men looked to test the Purples' 'keeper on several occasions, perhaps to take advantage of the greasy surface.

On 69 minutes Daejeon made a double substitution, Park Yong-ji and Jeong Hee-woong on in place of Kim Seung-seop and Park In-hyeok. Suwon made a sub of their own too, ex-Daejeon defender Jang Jun-young on for Kang Shin-myeong. 

The second half really opened up and stepped up a gear with each team taking turns to try and counter attack one another. There was a lack of composure but clearly, neither side are content with a point to start the new campaign.

Suwon's third and final substitution came on 75 mins, Song Soo-young on for Danilo, Kim Do-kyun looking to do what his opposite number, Hwang Sun-hong, had done and freshen things up on the flanks.

Counter attacks and yellow cards was the theme for the second period at Castle Park. But a neat passage of play from Suwon almost enabled substitute Song Soo-young to have to find a late winner; the winger latched onto a cross from the right with a diving header but Kim Dong-jun was alert and parried the ball out to safety. 

Daejeon made their third and final substitution of the afternoon on 82 minutes, U20 World Cup finalist Kim Se-yun was introduced in place of Bruno Baio. Kim deployed as a number 10 allowed Andre Luis to slot in up front. 

On 85 minutes, Lee Ji-sol up-ended Ahn Byong-jun on the edge of the box affording Suwon a genuine goal-scoring opportunity. Daejeon's six-man wall was beaten but Kim Dong-jun expertly tipped the ball over the bar for a corner. Danger averted and a bit of a let off for the visitors who looked the most likely to go on and find a winner.

Daejeon almost did just that and fashioned themselves a golden chance to find a winner. Park Yong-ji, who had come on to make his debut for Citizen, linked up with Andre Luis before shimmying his way in front of goal. Park's left-footed strike looked as though it was curling into the far corner but, much to the relief of Yoo Hyun, it had gone out for a goal kick.

There was a real sense of urgency from both sides as the game headed into the closing moments. Suwon has begun to turn the screw a bit more which had allowed Daejeon to find space on the counter attack. 

Four minutes of added time were announced by the fourth official but neither side could find a goal and the game ended as a stalemate. Or that was how it seemed until Park Yong-ji, with a huge helping hand from VAR, got the Hana era off to a winning start. The former Incheon and Sangju man turned home the winner after Lee Seul-chan had sent the ball across the penalty area. 

It had appeared as though Lee was offside when former Dragons teammate Jeong Hee-woong had slipped him in but, after checking with the video assistant referee, had declared Lee Seul-chan onside. Cue delirium among the Daejeon bench and players. 

 

Lineups

Substitutes: 25 Le Shi-hwan, 3 Park Min-gyu, 17 Lee Ji-hoon, 5 Jang Jun-young (69' Kang Shin-myeong), 8 Kim Jae-heon, 7 Song Soo-young (75' Danilo), 11 Mo Jae-hyun (46' Han Jeong-woo)

Substitutes: 1 Park Ju-won, 3 Hwang Jae-hoon, 42 Lee Jung-moon, 28 Kim Se-yun (82' Baio), 41 Gong Yong-hoon, 19 Park Yong-ji, (69' Kim Seung-seop), 29 Jeong Jae-woong (69' Park In-hyeok)