May 29, 2020
The fourth round of the K-League
season kicked off with a Friday night ( local time ) match between the sides
that finished fifth and seventh in the 2019 season, Daegu FC and Sangju Sangmu.
Again I decided to stick with the feed from Bet365 rather than any of the unofficial
channels appearing to be streaming the match live on YouTube.
Daegu is the fourth largest city
in South Korea, with a population of over 2.5 million people and is located 280
kms south-east from Seoul. FC Daegu moved into the purpose built DGB Daegu Bank
Park stadium in 2019, which has an official capacity of 12,415.
The hosts have had a disappointing start to the season, lying third from
bottom after three rounds with just two points. They have scored only one goal,
through Brazilian striker Edgar in the 1-1 home draw with Pohang Steelers, a
match in which they looked the more likely winners in the closing stages. Their
other results have been a dull 0-0 draw at Incheon and a fairly predictable comprehensive
0-2 defeat at favourites Jeonbuk.
Sangju’s
side consists of young South Korean professional footballers serving their
compulsory two year military duty, before returning back to their parent club.
Obviously, they do not have any foreign players, although they do have Moon Seon Min, who has 14 full
caps, and played over 100 times in the Swedish top flight and who has returned
to the country to do his service.
Every
season Sangju have to build a new side to integrate the new recruits and cover
for those whose service has come to an end. Consequently, they probably need
time to settle, and were hammered 0-4 in their opening match at Ulsan. However,
since that result they have bounced back with two home wins, over Gangwon and
Gwangju, without a goal conceded, to sit in third place. However, it is already
known that the team will be relegated at the end of the season as part of a long
planned restructuring of the Korean leagues. Left sided midfielder Sang Woo
Kang, whose parent club is Pohang Steelers, is the top scorer with two goals.
Daegu, playing all sky blue, started
the match as 10/11 favourites to win with Sangju, in their normal red shirts,
black shorts, 3/1 outsiders.
Daegu started strongly and after
5 minutes their peroxide blond captain Jeung Woon Hong ( no 5 ) forced a brave
close range save from Sangju keeper.
From the corner Hong then had a shot blocked as
he slipped and turned to get his shot away. Minutes later he went down in a
heap to be treated and had to be stretched off.
Apart from this the first half
was relatively uneventful. Min had started on the bench for Sangju but an
injury meant he entered the field of play on 38 minutes. Edgar worked hard
for Daegu but a couple of weak headers easily saved were the only reward for his
endeavours.
Daegu also started the second
half strongly, but Edgar headed harmlessly wide under pressure from the Sangju defence. However,
the deadlock was broken on 50 minutes when a low right wing cross was
athletically back heeled onto the run into the far corner by Brazilian Cesinha
for a 1-0 lead.
To their credit Sangju responded
brightly and after 61 mins a cross from the left was met with a flicked header
flicked into far corner from 8 yards by Seung Min Song ( No 16, with Pohang Steelers
as his parent club ). There was the obligatory salute to the stand after
scoring.
The tempo of the game quickened
after the equaliser, with Edgar again heading harmlessly wide and then Cesinha
hit the post following a long ball down channel and a shot across the goal from
a tight angle. However, Sangju also had chances with Min having a shot
following a quick counter blocked for a corner , and on 77 minutes a slick move
left Min free at the back post but his weak shot was easily saved.
Games in Korea this season have often
had late drama but here the only example was on 87 minutes when Edgar slid in
to connect with low cross from right wing but his close range effort hit the
keeper and went over for a corner. After this the game fizzled out for the 1-1
draw.
In summary, a draw was a fair
result. Sangju were defensively well organised, their passing was neat and they
counter attacked with pace. Daegu were functional without too much creative
spark, and relied heavily on their two Brazilian forwards for any creativity.
Official Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCXHFattjus
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