By Pearse McLaughlin
Super-sub-Masatoshi Ishida comes off the bench to grab the winner here at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in a thrilling encounter that finished 3-2. It was a thrilling encounter where both sides threw caution to the wind in this top of the table clash.
Daejeon Hana Citizen manager, Lee Min-Sung has changed his side’s formation from the 3-4-3 formation they used last time out as they defeated Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-1 away from home and has changed his formation to 4-3-3 in this top of the table clash. In terms of personnel there is only one change from the side and that is Bae Jun-Ho into replace Leandro Ribeiro.
FC Seoul manager, An Ik-Soo hasn’t altered his side’s formation from the 4-4-2 as it’s as you were considering they won last time out to Jeju Island 2-1. In terms of personnel changes there is only one change and that is Baek Jong-Beom into replace Choe Cheol-Won.
Breakthrough on the 15th minute for Daejeon Hana Citizen courtesy of an owl goal for Osmar. Great run in behind by Tiago Orobo who rounded the keeper and got his shot away but was slid onto the post by the defender where it cannoned off Baek Jong-Beom and trickled in off Osmar. An unfortunate own goal by FC Seoul as they did their best to keep it out but ultimately not enough. 1-0 Daejeon Hana Citizen.
A bullet header by Cho Yu-Min on the 21st minute doubles Daejeon Hana Citizen’s lead over FC Seoul. It was an inch perfect ball into the box by Lee Jin-Hyun from the corner on the left-hand side and it saw Cho Yu-Min make a late darting run to the penalty spot, rising highest before planting a bullet header into the ground and going into the right-hand corner. 2-0 Daejeon Hana Citizen. Mountain to climb for the visitors.
It only took FC Seoul a mere 5 minutes to respond, and it was courtesy of their club captain Stanislav Iljutcenko. It was a good ball in by former Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng from the out-swinging corner on the right-hand side as Stanislav Iljutcenko outmuscles Seo Young-Jae before planting a header into the bottom left-hand corner from the six-yard-box. 2-1. Game well and truly on.
An electrifying first half where at times it seemed like a basketball game as it was end-to-end and chances for both sides. Three goals were scored in the opening 25 minutes and the three goals were separated by 10 minutes, so all the goals were scored in quick succession. You can tell this is a top of the table clash as it means so much to both sides and hopefully more of the same in the second period.
The game is all square thanks to Na Sang-Ho on the 51st minute as he unleashes an unstoppable shot into the bottom right-hand corner leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. Na Sang-Ho collects the ball on the left wing faces up Kim Jin-Ya, fakes him before shifting inside and arrowing his shot into the right-hand corner. Terrific technique as he was about 25 yards from goal and just the way the ball just went straight as an arrow into the bottom right-hand corner. 2-2. Game on as both sides are now level.
On the 65th minute Lee Jin-Hyun had the audacity to try his luck directly from the corner as he seen Baek Jong-Beom off his line but got back in time to tip it over the bar. From the following corner Cho Yu-Min knocks the ball down from Lee Jin-Hyun’s corner from the right-hand side where Tiago Orobo finds himself unmarked from the knock down and only 3 or 4 yards from goal scuffs his effort wide. Absolute Sitter. Daejeon Hana Citizen should have retaken the lead.
On the 89th minute super sub-Masatoshi Ishida side foot volleys Daejeon Hana Citizen back in front from close range following a lung bursting run from Kim In-Gyun where he showed great determination to stay on his feet following a foul before picking out Masatoshi Ishida who made no mistake.
It’s all over here as Daejeon Hana Citizen have recorded their first ever win over FC Seoul at the 12thattempt. This was the first league meeting between the two sides since the 22nd of August 2015 where FC Seoul won two nil winners. It was an end-to-end game where Daejeon Hana Citizen edged it on the balance of play.
Next up Daejeon Hana Citizen will look to continue where they left off with another win when they travel away next Sunday the 9th of April where they will face Suwon FC.
Next up for FC Seoul is a home fixture against Daegu FC next Saturday the 8th of April where they will look to get back to winning ways as soon as possible and not fall to far off the title race.
Daejeon Hana Citizen: Lee Chang-Geun, Oh Jae-Suk, Kim Min-Duk, Cho Yu-Min, Anton Kryvotsyuk (Kim Hyun-Woo 80’), Lee Jin-Hyun, Lim Deok-Geun, Seo Young-Jae, Jeon Byung-Kwan, Tiago Orobo (Gong Min-Hyun 77’), Bae Jun-Ho (Masatoshi Ishida 59’). Subs not used: Yu Kang-Hyun, Kim In-Gyun, Lee Hyeon-Sik, Jung San.
FC Seoul: Baek Jong-Beom, Kim Jin-Ya, Osmar, Kim Ju-Sung, Lee Tae-Seok (Park Soo-Il 24’), Na Sang-Ho (Kang Seong-Jin 73’), Aleksandar Palocevic, Ki Sung-Yueng (Han Chan-Hee 86’), Lim Sang-Hyub (Kwon Wan-Kyu 46’), Hwang Ui-Jo, Stanislav Iljutcenko (Park Dong-Jin 46’). Subs not used: Kim Sin-Jin, Seo Ju-Hwan.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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