Chungnam Asan Record Historic Victory

Chungnam Asan ran away winners on Saturday afternoon with a comprehensive 4-0 result on their home patch against Busan IPark notching their first win of the season in the process.  A double from Ryohei Michibuchi spurned them to their first three pointer of the season in what was their best performance following their transition to becoming a citizen club last year.  KLU's Branko Belan reflects on the match.

Chungnam Asan recorded their biggest victory in their new era with a stunning 4-0 result against Busan IPark on Saturday afternoon.  A brace from Ryohei Michibuchi and goals from Yoo Jun-soo and Kim In-kyun sealed a big three points for the Owls as they now look ahead to an encounter with Ansan Greeners next weekend.

A Quick Start  

It is the largest margin of victory for the club since the transition, and the performance was well worth it.  They went in front just two minutes into the match with Yoo nodding home Park Se-jik's free kick from just outside the box only two minutes into the match.  Both teams would have their chances in the first half and Busan could have gone level just past the half hour mark, but Domagoj Drožđek was denied from close range by Lee Ki-hyun and a stout effort by the Owls' back line.

The visitors continued to press for an equalizer toward the end of the half, with An Byoung-jun coming close from a free kick, which was deftly sent aside, only for the hosts to double their advantage just before the break.  A counter on the left saw Michibuchi into space in the penalty area to slot home into a half empty net to give Asan a distinct advantage heading to the interval.

Pressure Sustained 

Busan could have had one back just five minutes into the second half when a blocked free kick fell into the path of Valentinos Sielis, but his long range effort was touched over the bar by Lee Ki-hyun.  The away side would come close again to halving the deficit just minutes later, but Park Jeong-in's headed strike struck the frame of the goal.

Ryohei Michibuchi's brace secured the Owls' first win of the season.

It looked as though Drožđek had pulled one back for Busan on 67 minutes with a header, only to be chalked off for a foul.  A dreadful defensive error would lead to Asan's third, with Kim In-kyun taking advantage from close range following Ahn Jun-su's early run out to meet a cross from the right flank with a simple tap in behind the IPark back line.

Kim Chan had arguably his best match in an Asan uniform on Saturday afternoon, charging forward in the 84th minute on goal, only to be cut down inside the area, winning a penalty which was converted cleanly into the roof of the net by Michibuchi to make it 4-0.  Busan would push for a consolation marker in injury time, but Asan refused to let them through.

A Satisfying Result

Park Dong-hyuk lauded his players for their performance after the match.

Park Dong-hyuk was satisfied with the performance.

"It was a difficult game, but I am grateful to the players for their dedication.  They deserve congratulations for a great victory.  The mood in the team was down following the loss to Bucheon last week, but the preparation for this match went well and we came away with a good result.  With today's result, we can be a team that opponents will fear.  We are on the verge of growing to a new level," the manager commented after the match.

"The players made a big effort under stress.  I underscored the importance of scoring goals ahead of the match and they understood the initiative.  It resulted in a big win today," he concluded.

Asan travel to face Ansan Greeners next weekend at the Wa Stadium knowing that one match will not define their season, but will at least push it in the right direction.