FA Cup Preview: Daejeon Hana Citizen vs Chuncheon FC

After an unbeaten start to the 2020 Hana 1Q K League 2 campaign, promotion favourites Daejeon Hana Citizen host K3 side Chuncheon FC in Round 2 of the KEB Hana Bank FA Cup this Saturday. Whilst the Purples have enjoyed a tremendous start to the new campaign, the same cannot be said for their opponents this weekend who have just one win all season. 

Overview

via Soccerway

Last Time Out

Gyeongnam FC 2-2 Daejeon Hana Citizen (K League 2)

A dramatic last five minutes in Changwon ensured that the spoils were shared as two of the divisions promotion favourites went head to head at the weekend. Gyeongnam were dealt and early blow when Ha Sung-min was given his marching orders after just nine minutes. Daejeon took the lead but not until the 47th minute through Park Jin-seop's second of the campaign. A slick passing move and a back-heel by Andre played Park in on goal who, on the edge of the box, curled the ball into the bottom corner.

The former Ansan Greeners midfielder's strike looked set to be the game's only goal, that was until Park Chang-jun levelled on 85 minutes. Then, an unfortunately own goal from Yun Kyung-bo gave Gyeongnam the lead heading into injury time. However, Daejeon kept their unbeaten start in tact when Andre levelled from the penalty spot deep into injury time.

Highlights



Gyeongju Citizen 1-0 Chuncheon FC (K3)

Chuncheon's poor start to the new campaign got worse at the weekend, falling to a 1-0 defeat to Gyeongju Citizen. The only goal of the contest came on 47 minutes, Yun Min-ho converting from close ranger after some wonderful wing play down the right-hand side. Chuncheon now sit third-bottom of the new K3 table.

Highlights

Previous Meetings

Saturday's meeting will be the first ever between the two sides but Daejeon have faced teams from the third tier or lower on nine occasions since their 2001 FA Cup triumph.  Citizen have lost just once to a side from the third tier or lower, a 2-1 defeat to FC Pocheon in May 2014 being the only time. Meanwhile, Chuncheon have faced just two K Leagues sides in their history, Jeonnam in 2019 and Ulsan in 2017, both ended in defeats.

FA Cup Record

Daejeon famously lifted the FA Cup in 2001 thanks to a 1-0 win over Pohang Steelers in the final, Kim Eun-jung in the 53rd minute at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The following year, the Purples reached the semi-finals but lost to Suwon Bluewings. Daejeon made the semis in 2004 but it then took them five years to repeat such a feat after getting knocked out by eventual winners Seongnam in 2009. Citizen made it to the quarters in 2012 but since then have gone no further than the Round of 16 and fell at the first hurdle in both 2018 and 2019.

Chuncheon, meanwhile, first entered the FA Cup in 2012 and have never made it beyond the Round of 16. The Gangwon-based side have fallen at the first hurdle on five occasions but make it to Purple Arena having displaced K5 side Byuksan Players in a 4-0 win.

Path To The Next Round

The winners of Saturday's match will play the victors of Ansan Greeners versus Shiheung Citizen. After which, a home fixture with K League 1 giants FC Seoul awaits.

Graphic by @MediocreJake

Team News

Daejeon could have Bruno Baio back in contention for the visit of Chuncheon but Connor Chapman is still a couple of weeks away. Purples manager Hwang Sun-hong is likely make wholesale changes to his team and give some fringe players a run out. Goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun is likely to be rested with either Kim Jin-young or, if fit, Park Ju-won likely to be given a first start of the season. Elsewhere, the likes of Jeong Hee-woong, club captain Hwang Jae-hoon, Hwang Do-yeon, and Lee In-kyu, may be given their first start of the year.

Lee Geon-cheol could feature for Chuncheon, the striker had a brief spell with Daejeon in 2018. Other plans familiar to K League fans are defender Bae Ji-hoon, who featured 29 times for Suwon FC between 2017 and 2018, and forward Kim Pil-ho, formerly of Goyang Zaicro.

[READ: What K League Means To Me: Connor Chapman]

The Adversary

Lead by Son Hyun-jun, a former LG Cheetahs and Busan Royals defender, Chuncheon FC have made a slow start to the new K3 campaign with a draw and two defeats. The club was founded in 2010 and began life in K3 League, finishing 15th in their debut year. The following season, in the re-branded K3, called the Challengers' League, Chuncheon finished fourth, then second in 2012 which remains as their highest ever finish. Following the introduction of the K3 Basic and Advanced system, Chuncheon finished 10th and fifth in 2017 and 18 respectively but then sunk to 10th in 2019.

To make it to the second round, Chuncheon overcame Seoul-based Byuksan Players with a comprehensive 4-0 win thanks to goals from Yuk Geun-hyuk, Kim Do-hyun, Lee Sang-hyeon, and Lee Geon-cheol.

[READ: FA Cup Round 2 Preview]

What To Watch

Rotation. Can Daejeon's fringe players come in and do a job? So far this term, Hwang Sun-hong has used 20 different players. The likes of Jeong Hee-woong, a winger signed from Jeonnam, has made four substitute appearances while Yoon Sung-han, Park In-hyeok, and Kim Se-yun have come off the bench twice. Choi Jae-hyun (pictured above), one of four players arriving from Jeonnam, has recently been given a chance in the first team and so will be looking to keep his place.

There's also captain Hwang Jae-hoon who is yet to make a single appearance, despite being named in three match day squads. Reserve goalkeepers Kim Jin-young and Park Ju-won, and the likes of Hwang Do-yeon, and Lee In-kyu who were regulars in the side at the tail end of last season are yet to feature. With Kim Dong-jun, Lee Seul-chan, Park Yong-ju, Lee Gyu-ro, Lee Ji-sol, Lee Woong-hee, Andre Luis all expected to be rested, the onus will be on those who are given the nod to make an impression and earn their way onto Hwang's first team plans.

Prediction

Gaining promotion is the priority and so Daejeon won't be taking this game too seriously. But, even with wholesale changes expected, the Purples should emerge as victors against a side which has only one win this term and that was against a side from the fifth tier in round one.

Where To Watch

The match will be streamed on the KFA's official YouTube channel.