Preview: Daejeon Citizen vs Ansan Greeners

Five games undefeated Daejeon Citizen host an out of form Ansan Greeners on Saturday evening in the science city. The Green Wolves will be looking to create a formula of their own to maintain a chance of finishing in the playoffs. Daejeon will be looking for a win to keep them off the foot of the table.

Last Time Out

Suwon FC 2-2 Daejeon Citizen

Daejeon actually did Ansan a favour by taking a point at Castle Park last weekend. The Citizens led 2-1 going into the closing stages when Suwon were reduced to ten men before falling foul of an Egbuchunam equalizer. An Sang-hyun and Lee Jeong-mun were the scorers for Daejeon. It was Daejeon’s fourth draw in five and fifth game undefeated, notable as they had lost 16 of the previous 24 outings. The draw kept Suwon five points behind Ansan post-weekend.

Ansan Greeners 1-2 Bucheon FC 1995

Ansan’s dip in form was compounded when they let a lead slip to Bucheon, who suddenly find themselves just seven points behind the Green Wolves. It means the Green Wolves were without a win, after being hot on the heels on second placed Busan just a few weeks ago. Park Jun-hui opened the scoring with his first of the season after being played in by Hwang Tae-hyun, before Kim Han-bin replied for the visitors. Ansan thought they had scored with a Jang Hyuk-jin header but VAR ruled it out. The game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw before an injury time penalty, decided by VAR was converted by Nilson to give the visitors the three points. It was yet another game governed by VAR decisions that have increasingly drawn ire from the Ansan fanbase. Speaking post-game, Lim Winseop admitted that the last three results had been “very bad.”

Previous Meetings

This is the final meeting of the two sides this season, with Daejeon having won two of the three encounters this season. Interestingly, Daejeon won on both occasions that they visited the Wa Stadium, with Chitu having scored in both of those victories. This includes the infamous VAR-gate on the opening day of the season that would see Ansan given a hefty fine after officials were confronted post-game. Conversely, Ansan came away from Daejeon with a 3-1 win in June, with two injury time goals sealing it. Vintecinco has also scored twice against Daejeon this season, so expect him to have something to say about the final result in this game.

Prediction

Ansan simply must win this game to avoid being pulled into a scrap for 4th with Asan and Suwon, however Daejeon have been increasingly resolute and are now determined not end the season rooted to the bottom of the K2. Expect a draw which may be fine for both sides in the long run, unless VAR can chip in with a goal to settle it.

Predicted Score: Daejeon Citizen 1-1 Ansan Greeners

[READ: K League 2 Round 30 Preview.]