Daegu FC look to clip the Bluewings

After their 1-0 win on the road, Daegu FC return home this Wednesday, hoping to keep the momentum alive in Suwon Bluewings's visit to DGB Bank Park. Can the Sky Blues clip the Bluewings? Or will the Bluewings fly over the Sky Blues? K League United's Daegu FC correspondent Muyeol Jung previews the clash.

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Daegu FC
Struggling Lee Byungguen's side successfully turned the tide in the capital last weekend after they held onto a 1-0 lead thanks to Edgar's winner on 26 minutes. Adding three points to their tally, they sit tenth in the table. As it stands, only five points separate Daegu and 3rd placed Suwon Bluewings.

Suwon Bluewings
After a four-games winless streak in the league, Park Geonha's side got back to winning ways in style after stunning the league title contenders Ulsan Hyundai 3-0 at home through goals from all their youth products. The emphatic win sent the Bluewings up to the third place in the table level on goals scored.

Team News

The return of the likes of key players Cesinha, Hong Jungwoon, and Kim Jinhyuk last time out gave the gaffer much more options in team management and this will continue. It turned out that Cesinha wasn't 100% fit though, but he will be able to feature for the midweek's fixture with caveat. Left winger Hwang Soonmin also returned from injury, but was an unused sub last time out.

Meanwhile, Serginho seems to have picked up an injury as he was dropped out of the squad. Including him, Park Gidong (back) and Sue Gyeongju (unspecified injury) remain unavailable. There are no suspensions in the squad.

The visitors, Suwon Bluewings have some concerns about team selection. Goalscorer Kim Gunhee (hamstring), and Han Seokjong (ankle) are in doubt for the Daegu trip after they were substituted out with injury last time out. Accordingly, Uroš Đerić might be handed a rare start up front instead of Kim.

On a positive note, solid defender Min Sangki was back in their back three last time out with sturdy midfielder Go Seungbeom on the bench. The boss is looking forward to seeing their involvement for the midweek fixture.

Injury list: Doneil Henry, Nicolao Dumitru, Kim Minwoo, Yang Sangmin, Kim Gunhee and Han Seokjong.

What to Watch

Advent of the brand-new attacking trio?
Versatile Kim Jinhyuk, had played in the back three before, returned from injury, and spearheaded with Edgar backed up by Cesinha, creating a few sparkling moments. On his return, he immediately boasted an unlikely instinct as striker by providing an assist to Edgar.

Kim Jinhyuk won the Player of the Month for April in 2019 thanks to four goals and one assist while Edgar was sidelined. 

Having the Korean striker upfront is a massive boost for the Sky Blues. Not only can he play up front, but his presence also accordingly enables the Sky Blues to harness playmaker Cesinha in a free role from upfront to low midfield, which can subsequently maximise attacking options.

In the post match interview, the gaffer was also satisfied with his performance and made it clear that he would keep him [Kim Jinhyuk] up front for the time being.

In fact, despite Kim and two Brazilians being in the club for over four years including Kim's military service, they haven't played much together as partners as either the Korean usually was in Edgar's understudy role or deployed in the defence. 

Nevertheless, things are looking quite promising judging by what we saw last weekend in the capital. Can the new trio fill the void left by the departure of Kim Daewon and excite Daegu fans again?

Youngsters: Lee Jinyong vs Jung Sangbin and Kang Hyunmuk
Out of 12 teams in K League 1, probably Daegu and Suwon Bluewings are the one of the few teams that benefit most from utilising the U22 rule as intended.

Lee Jinyong (R) kept Aleksandar Paločević quiet in their 1-0 win over Seoul

For the Sky Blues, youth product Lee Jinyong was left behind Jo Jinwoo and Oh Husung into the season, but after some time, the defensive midfielder becomes a big part of the spine in Daegu's tactic. The 179cm-tall midfielder is very versatile, capable of playing as right wing back and central defender, but he is best suited to screen the defence with great commitment and diligence.

Super rookie Jung Sangbin is the top scorer in the team with three goals in five appearances

The Bluewing's youth fostering policy eventually appears to have established in the club with recent big successes of Jung Sangbin and Kang Hyunmuk. Actually, none of the pundits were expecting anything good from the pair when they traveled to Qatar with the first team squad last season for ACL2020, but this season they are proving what they can bring to the club on the pitch. Last time out, the Bluewing's third goal purely created by the youngster duo was absolutely the pinnacle of the emphatic 3-0 win at home. The duo's confidence will be as high as their position in the table. It will be interesting to see whether they can get past Daegu's towering defence line that is massively bolstered through Hong Jungwoon.

🤔 How did Suwon upset Ulsan over the weekend?

👋 Say hello to Kang Hyun-muk!#KLeague | #K리그 | #강현묵 pic.twitter.com/F2E8SxkNN1

— K League (@kleague) April 19, 2021