By Pearse McLaughlin
A first half blitz from FC Seoul here at Seoul World Cup Stadium saw them blow away Daegu FC 3-0. Goals from Hwang Ui-Jo, Na Sang-Ho and the pick of the bunch has got to be Aleksandar Palocevic’s terrific freekick.
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 lost last time out 3-2 to Daejeon Hana Citizen. In terms of personnel changes there is two changes and that is Kwon Wan-Kyu and Park Su-Il come into replace Lim Sang-Hyub and Stanislav Iljutcenko.
Daegu FC manager, Choi Won-Kwon has changed his side’s formation from the 5-4-1 formation they used last time out as they drew 0-0 with Incheon United away from home and has changed his formation to the 3-4-3. In terms of personnel there are three changes as Jo Jin-Woo, Edgar Silva, and Jang Seong-Won come into replace Lee Keun-Ho, Hwang Jae-Won, and Kim Jin-Hyuk.
On the 10th minute and FC Seoul Kim Ju-Sung volleys the ball back towards goal following a flick on by Hwang Ui-Jo from a Ki Sung-Yueng corner from the right-hand side and from close range Kim Kang-San had an outstretched arm and a penalty has been awarded to FC Seoul after a quick VAR check. Quickest VAR check you’re likely to see in football today and it was the correct decision. Hwang Ui-Jo steps up and coolly slots home his first goal for FC Seoul and relief for the on-loan Nottingham Forrest striker nets his first K-League 1 goal on his return to Korean football. 1-0 to the home side.
Na Sang-Ho doubles FC Seoul’s lead here on the 33rd minute and it is Kwon Wan-Kyu who heads it off the post initially and Na Sang-Ho pounces the quickest and volleys home the rebound and makes it 2-0 to FC Seoul in the process. This goal came from another dangerous corner from the right-hand side from Ki Sung-Yueng where Kwon Wan-Kyu glances his header off the near post and Na Sang-Ho reacts quickest. 2-0 FC Seoul. Well and truly in the driving seat so far.
FC Seoul are running away with it here on the 42nd minute and it is courtesy of Aleksandar Palocevic who makes it 3-0 with a fantastic freekick goal where he curled it into the goalkeeper’s side. Aleksandar Palocevic curls the ball around the wall and into the side netting leaving Oh Seung-Hoon rooted to the spot and in fairness to him he was blind sided by Osmar in the end of the wall. It was great initial play by Hwang Ui-Jo who looks a man possessed today as he showed terrific skill beating three men before being hauled down illegally just outside of the box by Lee Jin-Yong and is playing some of his best football since his return to the K-League 1.
FC Seoul lead by three goals to nil in the first half and it is extremely comfortable having not really created a lot of chances in the game but when they do they look dangerous. Daegu FC at times look like they are at sixes and sevens at times at the back as they are just all over the place and haven’t looked a threat going forward which is a recipe for disaster.
First real opportunity of the game for the away side comes on the 50th minute as Keita Suzuki forced a great save from Baek Jong-Beom. It all started with Jang Seong-Won’s cross into the box where Edgar Silva goes down theatrically looking for a penalty but to no avail. Keita Suzuki gets on with it and arrives late into the box and volleys the ball low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner but Baek Jong-Beom gets down well and is equal to it.
A mere two minutes later and Daegu FC threaten again through Keita Suzuki’s half volley. Jang Seong-Won’s terrific delivery again into the box from the right-hand side as Lucas Barcellos rises highest and flicks the ball onto the back post where Keita Suzuki runs onto it and unleashes a rasping half volley as he cuts across the ball sweetly, but Baek Jong-Beom tips the ball over for the corner with a terrific fingertip save. Much better showing already in the second half so far by Daegu FC.
It's all over here as the game was effectively won in the first half and certainly was a game of two halves. FC Seoul came out the traps flying and scored three first half goals and ultimately shut up shop in the second half as they looked to preserve their three nothing lead. Daegu FC threw caution to the wind in the second half as they looked to find a way back into the game but to no avail as FC Seoul defended resolutely.
Next up for FC Seoul is a game on Wednesday the 12th of April where they will face K-League 2 side Gimpo Citizen away from home in the Korean FA Cup Third round tie. They return to K-League 1 action next Saturday the 15th of April where they travel away to Pohang Steelers.
Next up for Daegu FC is a game on Wednesday the 12th of April where they will face K-League 2 side Cheonan City at home in the Korean FA Cup Third round tie. They return to K-League 1 action next Sunday the 16th of April where they host high flying Gwangju FC.
A terrific turnout here at Seoul World Cup Stadium as the attendance is a whopping 45,007 due to the special appearance by K-Pop star Lim Young-Woon who made a special half time performance to the delight of the fans.
FC Seoul: Baek Jong-Beom, Kim Jin-Ya (Han Seung-Gyu 79’), Kwon Wan-Kyu, Kim Ju-Sung, Lee Tae-Seok, Na Sang-Ho, Ki Sung-Yueng (Han Chan-Hee 46’), Osmar, Park Su-Il, Aleksandar Palocevic (Kim Sin-Jin 55’), Hwang Ui-Jo. Subs not used: Hwang Hyun-Soo, Lim Sang-Hyub, Choe Cheol Won, Stanislav Iljutcenko.
Daegu FC: Oh Seung-Hoon, Kim Kang-San, Hong Jeong-Woon, Jo Jin-Woo (Lee Keun-Ho 86’), Jang Seong-Won (Kim Jin-Hyuk 69’), Lee Jin-Yong (Park Se-Jin 46’), Marcos Serrato (Hwang Jae-Won 30’), Keita Suzuki, Go Jae-Hyeon, Edgar Silva, Lucas Barcellos (Kim Young-Jun 69’). Subs not used: Choi Young-Eun, Lee Yong-Rae.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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