February 19, 2021
These diaries last delved into the K-League in July 2021 to cover Incheon’s 2-1 victory over the Bluewings, which at the time was a surprise as Suwon were third in the table at the time. This was the start of a slump in form for Suwon which saw them ultimately finish 6th in the table after being potential title challengers in the first half of the season. Although at times they threatened to do better, Incheon ended up in 8th position.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2021/07/suwon-bluewings-1-2-incheon-united-att.html
With the start of the 2022 K-League pitching the two sides against each other in the opening round, it seemed appropriate to cover the fixture again, with live coverage available on the K-League website and Bet365.com. Onefootball are showing some games live from Korea, but not this match.
Incheon appeared to have been relatively stable in the winter transfer market. Whilst Brazilian journeyman Negueba had been released and not replaced, the three other legionnaires from 2021, namely Montenegrin striker Stefan Mugosa ( 37 caps, 9 goals in 2021, and both in the 2-1 victory at the Bluewings ), Costa Rican midfielder Elias Aguilar ( 5 goals and 5 assists ) and Australian defender Harrison Delbridge ( ever present in the 2021 regular season ) had all been retained. However, only Mugosa started this match, with Aguilar and Delbridge not even on the bench.
Centre-forward Hyun Kim left to join Suwon FC ( the other side based in the city ) after scoring 4 goals in 21 appearances, but apart from that there didn’t appear to be any major signing to or from K-League rivals.
In contrast the Bluewings had completely changed their foreign representatives. Canadian centre-back Doneil Henry left to join Los Angeles FC, ex-Nottingham Forest and Napoli forward Nicolao Dimirtru joined Romanian side UTA Arad, and Serbian striker and joint top scorer, Uros Decic was released. Australian midfielder Terry Antonis joined West Sydney Wanderers after being only a bit player last year after several seasons of being the lynch pin in midfield.
In their place have come ex Utrecht and Heerenveen Dutch centre-back Dave Bulthuis from Ulsan Hyundai, Bosnian midfielder Elvis Saric returned to the club after a spell at Croatian side HNK Gorica, and Danish striker Sebastian Gronning arrived from Viborg for a reported fee of 850K Euros. 19 year old winger Sang Bin Joung joined Wolves for £1M having scored 6 goals in 24 appearances, and has subsequently been loaned to Grasshoppers Zurich. Only Saric started today but Bulthuis and Gronning were named as substitutes.
Despite the statistic of Incheon only having won 8 of the 53 matches between the two sides, this promised to be an even encounter, although Bet365 made Suwon 11/8 favourites, with Incheon 9/4 outsiders, and the draw at 2/1. The temperature at the 16.30 local time kick-off was only 1 degree and there was a stiff breeze blowing. Montenegrin Mugosa opted to wear gloves, as did a couple of the Koreans !
With spectators now allowed inside stadiums in South Korea, those present, including a large number of away supporters, enthusiastically made a lot of noise in the opening stages of the game, encouraged by the tannoy announcer, and they witnessed some early drama.
Bluewings defender Daewon Park received a yellow card with less than 20 seconds played, bringing down Hong to prevent an attack, whilst Saric return ended after just 5 minutes through injury.
Then in the 6th minute Suwon striker Gun Hee Kim attempted a spectacular overhead kick just inside the Incheon penalty area, but unfortunately from him centre-back Kang bravely headed the ball clear, and received a kick in the face for his efforts. The crowd jeered Kim, who bowed in apology, but after an 8 minute delay for treatment and a VAR review, the referee rescinded the yellow card originally shown to Kim and replaced it with a red card. The unfortunate Kang had to be carried off and replaced.
Not surprisingly Incheon had most of the possession but chances were few and far between. In the 19th minute, Mugosa laid the ball off to midfielder Reum Yeo, whose 25 yard first time effort whistled inches over the angle of bar and post, but the best chance of the half came in the 36th minute when Mugosa swept a left footed volley against the bar and over from inside the six yard box after Kim Do-Hyuk’s header looped across goal.
Little was seen of the Bluewings as an attacking force, with just a tame free-kick straight at the goal-keeper just before the interval by left wing-back Ki Je Lee.
Incheon continued to press and in the 58th minute a cross from the left found Mugosa, who outjumped Daewon Park, but his header from 12 yards was comfortably tipped over the bar.
The 10 men should have taken the lead in the 62nd minute. A corner bounced across the 6 yard box to find Choi in space at the back post but stumbling, he could only head weakly sideways where team-mate Oh slid in but failed to make contact with the loose ball. Incheon were only able to clear to the edge of the area, where Bluewings captain Sang Gi Min sent a shot skidding just past the post.
The next good chance fell to Incheon in the 82nd minute. Skilful play down the right saw substitute and debutant Kyeong-hyeon Min beat his marker and deliver a pin-point across into the penalty area, but unfortunately for the home side Yong-Jae Lee’s 8 yard downward header was slightly fortunately pushed behind for a corner by the Bluewings keeper Yang.
Two minutes from time Mugosa’s shot from outside the edge of the area was comfortably saved and it looked like the Bluewings would hold out for a point. However, in the second minute of added on time, Lee twisted to get to the by-line inside the Bluewing’s area, and crossed back to the penalty spot where the on rushing Mugosa was able to head powerful goal wards, and although Yang got a hand to it, the ball crossed the line for a dramatic late winner.
Incheon United : DH Kim -DM Kim, LK Hyeon, MS Kang ( JY Kim ) – BS Kim ( KH Min ), MJ Lee ( DS Lee ), Yeo, YG Kang ( SW Song ) – DH Kim, Mugosa, SI Hong ( YJ Lee )
Suwon Bluewings : HM Yang – HI Jang, SK Min, DW Park ( JA You ) – TH Kim ( Gronning ), SJ Han, Saric ( SG Choi, Bulthuis ), KJ Lee – SW Jeong, GH Kim, HG Oh
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YSBdtALL-U&t=379s
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