by Liam Birch at Daejeon World Cup Stadium
Two goals from Park Sung-Ho against his former club Busan helped Daejeon on their way to a vital victory as the K-League resumed after international break. On a night where few fans ventured out to the rain-soaked stadium, Daejeon produced a fine attacking display to see off a Busan team who were enjoying a decent run of form.
The visitors, who found themselves at the upper echelons of the league at the start of play, looked tentative in the early going and paid the price. Daejeon took the lead on 11 minutes. Ko Chang-Hyeon's deep free kick from the right found the unmarked Park Sung-Ho who cooly volleyed Daejeon ahead. It was a very nice finish but Busan will feel they could have defended it much better.
Busan were given no respite as Citizen piled forward looking for a second. It came on 15 minutes through the creativity of play maker Babel. The Brazilian picked up the ball on the right hand side of the area before cutting inside, beating his man and driving an effort towards goal. The Busan keeper could only parry it, straight into the feet of Park Sung-Ho, who duly grabbed his second of the game.
It was a fine start for Daejeon and one that was fully deserved given their attacking play from the outset. Daejeon could have been forgiven for thinking that the game was over but Busan fired a warning on the stroke of halftime. Poor defending and the inability to clear their lines cost Daejeon as Lee Jung Ho fired home from inside the area. In truth, the defender on the line should have cleared it but instead, he helped divert the ball into the roof of the net.
The goal just before half time gave Busan added momentum heading into the second. They created numerous half-chances that were either well saved by Choi Eun-Song or fired wastefully wide. They were misses that Busan would regret as Citizen top-scorer Ko Chang-Hyeon, another former Busan player, fired his 6th goal of the season on 63 minutes.
A cross from the left was poorly headed away by the Busan defender. Park Sung-Ho tried to bring the ball under control before poking it towards Ko Chang-Hyeon on the right. The winger hit it first time with the outside of his boot to send the ball swerving away from the Busan keeper and into the top left corner of the net. It was a great finish from a man who is attracting much attention from other clubs, namely Suwon. If he keeps scoring goals like that, then Citizen will have a real struggle on their hands to keep him.
Jung Sung Hoon completed the scoring for Busan on 94 minutes when the former Daejeon man tapped home a scrappy effort.
It was a fine win for Daejeon and one that keeps them safely ahead of bottom club Daegu and Ulsan. Indeed, in a close K-League, Daejeon are now just six points off a playoff spot, and with the next three games being played at home, Citizen fans will hope that this win provides a catalyst for a playoff push.
MOM: Park Sung-Ho
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