Daejeon must capitalise on Busan's shaky start

Daejeon Hana Citizen's home opener sees recently relegated Busan IPark make the trip north in Sunday's Hana 1Q K League 2 Round 2 clash. After an opening day win, Daejeon will be looking to inflict further misery on a Busan IPark side which was beaten comfortably 3-0 by Seoul E-Land at home last time out. With the second tier as competitive as it has ever been, the Purples must lay down a marker and pick up the three points. 

Overview

Recent Form

Daejeon Hana Citizen 

Daejeon Hana Citizen started the new campaign with a 2-1 win away to Bucheon FC 1995, a side who had picked up opening day wins in each of the last seven seasons. It wasn't pretty at times but with seven debutants in the starting eleven, it was always about getting the points. Daejeon have now won on opening weekend for the last three seasons after a seven-year barren spell. Daejeon's second game of the season in recent years has been mixed, in 2020 and 2019 wins on the first day were followed up with a win and a draw in 2019 and 2020 respectively. However, from 2016 to 2018, Daejeon failed to pick up wins in each of the first two matches.

📺 HIGHLIGHTS | Bucheon FC 1995 1-2 Daejeon Hana Citizen

🤯 A wild finish sees 3⃣ goals in the final 🔟 minutes and Daejeon off to a winning start in 2021#KLeague | #K리그 | #BUCvDHFC pic.twitter.com/hJUpc7IqeM

— K League (@kleague) February 28, 2021

Busan IPark

Busan, meanwhile, endured something of a torrid time in their season opener - succumbing to Seoul E-Land in a 3-0 loss. It was a baptism of fire for new boss Ricardo Peres who will be left scratching his head at some of his players' performances. The loss was Busan's third consecutive opening day defeat in a row. In that time, the Royals were were able to register points on the board in 2018 and 2018 with a draw and a win respectively in round two.

📺 HIGHLIGHTS | Busan IPark 0-3 Seoul E-Land

🐆 The Leopards pick up their first ever opening day victory in grand fashion with three goals in the second half!#KLeague | #K리그 | #BUSvSEFC pic.twitter.com/4dqtSDn756

— K League (@kleague) February 28, 2021

[READ: Daejeon Hana Citizen begin 2021 with three points]

Team News

Daejeon Hana Citizen will have to do without centre back duo Lee Ji-sol and Lee Woong-hee through injury. Kim Min-duk and Lim Dug-keun are expected to keep their places at the heart of the defence. Bruno Baio is also a doubt, Daejeon gaffer Lee Min-sung said recently that the Brazilian isn't likely to be involved, at least from the start, until mid-March. Captain Park Jin-seop is also an injury doubt. 

An error from Busan goalkeeper Ahn Joon-soo led to Seoul E-Land's opener last weekend and so Ricardo Peres may start with Choi Pil-su. An Byong-jun and Domagoj Drožđek were both on the bench last time out but will be hoping that their second half cameo appearances were enough to earn a place in the first 11. Lee Sang-heon, winter signing from Ulsan also came off the bench but exciting wing back Choi Jun was an unused sub.

What to Watch

Possession and Counter-attack

Daejeon Hana Citizen got off to a winning start to the new campaign and will see the visit of Busan as a winnable match. The Royals lost 3-0 at home to Seoul E-Land last weekend and will be reeling. New manager Ricardo Peres said in the press this week that he takes responsibility for the defeat and will be doing the best he can do turn possession into goals. Busan had 55% possession against E-Land but managed just three shots from 11 made the target. Daejeon, meanwhile, had 60% possession and their xG from the win over Bucheon was at 3.55, despite lacking an out-and-out striker. E-Land had some success on the counter attack against Busan, registering three shots from six overall attempts on the break - Daejeon could find some joy playing in a similar fashion. Citizen, though, will be looking to pick up only a second win over Busan from their 10 previous meetings while having conceded 22 and scored just eight.

[READ: 2021 K League 2 Round 2 Preview]

Who to Watch

Lee Jin-hyun

No player in K League 2 on opening weekend made more passes to the final third than Daejeon midfielder Lee Jin-hyun. The Asian Games gold medallist was deployed much deeper than the role which he would have been signed for, but 17 passes were made into the final third by Lee with 82% reaching their intended target. Lee led in progressive passes too with 16 made with 81% accuracy. With Park Jin-seop still not quite match fit, Lee Jin-hyun is likely to start as a holding midfielder but even being deployed from deep, the former Pohang and Daegu man is able to make an impact in the final third.

Watch Daejeon Hana Citizen vs Busan IPark live via tv.KLeague.com