Report: Daejeon Citizen 4 - 2 Vasco da Gama (Friendly)

by Liam Birch at Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Daejeon produced an outstanding display to see off the challenge of Brazilian visitors Vasco da Gama on Saturday. In front of the largest attendance this season, Daejeon did not disappoint and will have sent the thousands of fans, many of them attending their first game, home happy.

Daejeon signalled their intent by attacking from the outset. In fact, in a largely uneventful first half, Citizen barely looked troubled. The frustration was clear to see from Vasco as Daejeon limited their strikers to several long-range shots that sailed harmlessly over Choi Eun-Song's goal.

Daejeon themselves were finding lots of room down the flanks and expertly exploited the Brazilian's back three despite misplacing almost all of their crosses. Daejeon finally broke the deadlock just before half time. Vasco failed to deal with a high ball lofted deep from midfield and the ball dropped kindly to lone striker Park Sung-Ho. His well placed half volley gave the keeper no chance and ensured that Daejeon would take a one goal lead going into the break.

The second half started as the first ended with Daejeon very much in the ascendancy. The home side doubled their lead on the hour mark as, finally a cross of real quality was met by the head of Kwon Jib who glanced his header beyond the reach of the despairing goalkeeper.

Vasco barely had time to come to terms with the second goal when the third game. Again exploiting the empty space down the flanks, a nice pass picked out Kwon Jib on the edge of the area. The midfielder took a touch before curling a beautiful shot just inside the far post. Daejeon were in dreamland and looked a completely different side to the one that had lost so poorly against Seongnam on Wednesday.

The Brazilians would strike back twice in quick succession however. The first, a penalty, came after a clear foul, and was expertly put away by the Vasco forward. Minutes later, a scrambled effort meant a nervous ending to the game for the Daejeon faithful.

The game was put to rest however by man of the match Kwon Jib, who completed his hat-trick with a well placed effort with just four minutes remaining. Daejeon's Brazilian import Babel, who Vasco would probably do well to sign on this display, played a wonderful pass for the unmarked Kwon Jib to calmly finish off Vasco.

It was a wonderful display from Citizen and will leave their long suffering fans wondering why they cannot produce this kind of performance in the league.

MOM: Kwon Jib