Daejeon Ready for Brazilian Test

Daejeon Citizen have been gearing up to take on former Brazilian champions Vasco da Gama this week by holding a joint 'Meet the Players' fan event. Members of both sides met with the Daejeon public this Thursday evening as a build up to what is sure to be an exciting contest on Saturday.

Meanwhile Daejeon head coach Kim Ho has been entertaining his Brazilian counterpart Dorival Junior in the hope that this friendly game will help forge relations between the two sides.

Both teams had a terrible 2008 with Daejeon finishing just one place above the bottom of the K-League whilst Vasco da Gama were relegated for the first time in the club's history. Daejeon's poor form has continued into this year with Citizen recording just one league victory in ten outings. This friendly however represents an opportunity to record a morale boosting win ahead of the upcoming K-League fixtures in June.

The game kicks off at 7pm. Tickets are available from Daejeon World Cup Stadium and are priced at 15,000 won.

Daejeon out of Peace Cup

Daejeon Citizen were tonight knocked out of the Peace cup after suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Seongnam Ilhwa. The result means Daejeon finish a disappointing 5th position in their group.

Report: Daejeon Citizen 0 - 2 FC Seoul

by Liam Birch at Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Daejeon Citizen slumped to a miserable home defeat this Saturday at the hands of FC Seoul which leaves them level on points with Daegu and Suwon at the foot of the K-League table.

It is looking increasingly likely that Daejeon will face a very difficult task if they are to improve on last years dismal effort. In ten games this season, Citizen have tasted victory only once and have scored a mere seven goals.

That statistic was never in danger of changing against a well organized Seoul side who look a good bet to challenge for honors this time around. In the blistering heat at Daejeon World Cup stadium, the hosts got off to a bright start. The influential Ko Chang Hyeon was back after suspension but other than that, Daejeon kept faith with the side that lost 1-0 at Jeju. That meant a starting place for the awful Park Sung-Ho, who after today's performance, must be at an all time low.

It was Park who helped create the first clear cut chance however. His awkward style bothered the Seoul defence and his jab-pass left created a great chance for Lee Gyeong Hwan, whose effort was saved well by the Seoul keeper. In truth, had he hit it anywhere but straight at the goalkeeper, Daejeon would have led. As it was, it was Seoul who were finding too much space down the Daejeon left, putting numerous dangerous balls into the box. It was no suprise then that the opening goal came from there. The Seoul forward skinned the Daejeon left back before being cynically brought down in the area. It was a stonewall penalty and there can be no complaints. Choi Eun-Song almost saved the resulting penalty but Dejan hit it low and hard to give the capital side a deserved lead.

After the break, Daejeon created numerous chances but not until the game was settled in excellent fashion by the brilliant Dejan. He picked the ball up on the Daejeon left before drilling an unstoppable effort into the bottom right corner on the hour mark. After that, Daejeon toiled hard but terrible finishing ensured that was the end of the scoring.

Park Sung Ho in particular must take much criticism for his glaring miss. Through on goal, he hesitated, allowing the Seoul defender to get back. Still, he managed to beat his man before, with the goal at his mercy, skying the ball way over the bar. It was an unbelievable miss, even from a man that has made that his forte. Later, Ko Chang Hyeon fired a vicious shot that the substitute Seoul keeper did well to turn over the bar.

Daejeon now have a month before their next K-League fixture and must be happy that the break has come. There are severe rumblings about the future of coach Kim Ho and this could further destabilize the club. If only we could play Daegu every week.....

MOM: Dejan (FC Seoul)

Chi Chi leaves Daejeon

by Liam Birch

Daejeon Citizen today confirmed that Brazilian forward Chi Chi has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. The striker, who scored just one goal in eleven appearances for Daejeon, played his last game for Citizen in the 2-0 Peace Cup victory over Daegu, ironically the game in which he scored his only goal for the club.

The news has helped intensify speculation that Daejeon have already made a move for former fan favourite Adriano Shuva.

Report: Jeju Utd 1 - 0 Daejeon Citizen

by Liam Birch at Jeju World Cup Stadium

A moment of excellence, the woodwork and a controversial decision culminated in a 1-0 loss for Daejeon Citizen on a blustery afternoon in Seogwipo.

The visitors, without the injured ChiChi and suspended Ko Chang Hyeun, started brightly, aiming to test a Jeju defense that had conceded five goals in their last home league outing. The hosts looked vulnerable, particularly when attacked from the wing. However, Daejeon , playing Park Sung-Ho as the lone striker rarely threatened in the opening exchanges. That being said, they controlled the first twenty minutes, limiting Jeju to the occasional mazy runs of the Brazilian Jobson.

Chances for both sides were few and far between, with neither goalkeeper seeing much of the action. One notable effort came from Citizen midfielder Kwon Jib who saw his rasping half-volley of thirty yards saved well by the Jeju keeper. The decisive goal came soon after. As the Daejeon defence continued to back off, Kim Young-Shin fired a precise drive from the edge of the area, through the legs of two defenders before nestling into the bottom right hand corner of Choi Eun-Song's goal. It was an excellent effort in a game devoid of any real quality from either team.

The second half started in much the same manner as the first ended, with neither side creating any real chances, bar a moment of brilliance from man of the match Babel. The Brazilian picked up the ball midway inside the Jeju half, took on three defenders before curling his shot against the upright. It was a moment of pure quality that the game was severely lacking in.

The turning point of the game came around the hour mark as Daejeon were denied what seemed to be a legitimate goal. A deep cross was headed on by the Daejeon attacker which the Jeju defender attempted to clear. His header looped up in the air however, and was subsequently converted for what seemed like an excellent equalizer. Unbelievably, the linesman, forgetting the basic rules of the game, called the goal offside. Daejeon players surrounded the referee in protest at the injustice to no avail. It was an outrageous decision and one that Daejeon would not come back from.

From then on out it was Jeju that looked the more likely. Their wingers were finding too much space down the flanks as Citizen pushed forward for an equalizer. Luckily for Daejeon, Jeju failed to convert numerous decent crosses that exposed the Daejeon back four. Towards the end, Choi Eun-Song made an excellent save from long range, pushing the effort around the post as Citizen tired. He again came to the rescue later in the game, this time tipping a vicious effort over the bar.

In all, a draw would have been a fair result, however Daejeon paid the price for adopting an overly defensive approach. The defensive frailties were again evident and a decisive finisher must be a priority for Kim Ho if he is given funds in the summer.

MOM: Babel (the classiest player on the pitch by a long way)

Result: Daejeon Citizen 2 - 0 Cheonan City (FA Cup)

Daejeon advanced to the 2nd round of the FA cup tonight with a routine victory over non-league Cheonan City. Citizen will play Gangwon FC in the next round.

Report: Daejeon Citizen 2 - 0 Daegu (Peace Cup)

by Liam Birch at Daejeon World Cup Stadium

Daejeon Citizen won comfortably over a poor Daegu side on a sunny afternoon at the Purple Arena. This was an important win that catapulted Daejeon from the foot of their Peace Cup group to within touching distance of qualification. A win in the final fixture against Seongnam will see Daejeon through to the second round.

Things got off to a bright start for both sides with the game constantly shifting back and forth. Daejeon twice went close in the early going, with Ko Chang-Hyeon firing twice into the side netting from an unfavourable angle. Babel was deployed in a more attacking role and revelled in the added freedom. His link up play between the midfield and attack was causing Daegu problems.

Both Babel and Ko Chang-Hyeon were instrumental in the first goal. It was the Brazilian who found Ko on the right, who's cross was blocked by the Daegu defender to concede the corner. Ko's corner was initially blocked by the Daegu defence before ricocheting in off Chi Chi. It was the Brazilian forward's first goal for Daejeon, albeit in rather fortunate circumstances.

Whilst Daejeon led, Daegu were still looking mildly threatening on the counter. In particular the pace and skill of Emile Mbamba, Daegu's new Cameroonian import were causing problems. Indeed Mbamba saw a curling effort from outside the area strike the bottom right side of Choi Eun-Song's goal.

However, Daegu's hopes for a comeback were all but gone after a rash challenge resulted in a red card for the Daegu defender. It was a rash challenge and he can have no complaints about the referee's decision.

Daejeon goalscorer Chi Chi then went down under another heavy challenge. The Daegu player escaped punishment but Chi Chi was unable to continue and was to be replaced by Park Sung-Ho. The striker was dropped to the bench for this game but he staked his claim for a starting place soon after.

Park found himself in the box at a tight angle with a defender on his shoulder. He somehow turned and hit a beautifully placed shot that rolled over the line after striking the post on the left. His celebration was interesting to say the least, as he pretended to fire on the Daejeon fans. Perhaps this was a message to those (myself included) who had given him so much stick last year.

From then on out Citizen easily saw out the rest of the game. This was by no means an impressive performance, but Daejeon did what they had to do. The midfield in particular looked much stronger than of late. Regardless, they now find themselves with their fate in their own hands against Seongnam next time out.

MOTM: Lee Gyeong Hwan

Report: Daejeon Citizen 0 - 0 Pohang Steelers

by Liam Birch

Just over 4000 fans watched a drab affair as 2007 champions Pohang held Daejeon to a goalless draw at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on Friday evening.

This match saw the return of former Daejeon legend Denilson who left Citizen at the end of the 2007 campaign. Luckily for Daejeon, he looks a shadow of his former self, and at 33 years of age, is arguably entering the later stages of his career.

As the scoreline suggests, there were few moments of note. Ko Chang Hyeon was behind just about every Daejeon attacking move and is surely knocking on the door of the National team based on his recent performances. He almost connected with a trademark free kick around the quarter hour mark, however his effort just sailed past the post and into the sizeable Pohang following behind the goal.

Pohang too had little attacking prowess and in truth, will be pleased that they escaped with a draw. Had Daejeon been more aggressive, it may well have been a different story. Still, a precious point for Daejeon who move up to 11th position.

Daejeon MOTM: Ko Chang Hyeon.