This is Daejeon's fourth K League promotion playoff campaign, the third of the Hana era and the third in as many seasons. Daejeon's first attempt in 2018 ended in a 3-0 loss to Busan IPark in the promotion final stage, after beating Gwangju FC 1-0 at home in the semifinal. In 2020, a 1-1 draw away to Gyeongnam FC wasn't enough for Purples to advance and last year's heartbreak of losing 4-2 on aggregate to Gangwon FC, despite at one point in the tie being 2-0 up, will still hurt. Daejeon's overall playoff record reads played seven, won three, drew two and lost two.
For Gimcheon Sangmu this is a first foray into the playoffs but the army team actually competed in the first-ever K League promotion-relegation playoffs. Sangju Samgmu won promotion to the top division in 2013 following a 4-2 aggregate win over Gangwon FC. Sangju also took part in the 2017 playoffs and beat Busan IPark on penalties following a 1-1 draw on aggregate. Although Sangju suffered relegation in 2014 and 2020, neither instances were via the playoffs.
Daejeon Hana Citizen ended the 2022 K League 2 season in fine form and with a run of nine unbeaten with six wins including three on the bounce. Such form was enough for Daejeon to seal second place ahead of FC Anyang. Scoring 18 goals in their last nine, the Purples have averaged two goals per match and have conceded, on average, 0.77 goals per game from seven overall. Wednesday's clash will be Daejeon's first at home after two on the road, the 3-0 victory over Gimpo FC in Round 43 and the 2-1 win over Ansan Greeners on the final day.
Gimcheon Sangmu, meanwhile, lost 3-1 at home to Suwon Samsung Bluewings last Saturday to make it no wins in five. However, Gimcheon fans will perhaps take some solace in the fact that four of those matches have ended in draws. The army team's last win came on 18th September at home to Incheon United while their last win away from home was on 6th September against Gangwon FC thanks to Seo Min-woo own goal.
Team News
Daejeon Hana Citizen will be sweating over the fitness of Brazilian forward Willyan Barbosa who missed the last match of the season with an unspecified muscle injury which, reportedly, isn't serious. Kwon Han-jin is out for the season while full backs Min Jun-young and Lee Jong-hyeon are doubts although the latter was involved in Daejeon B's K4 fixture with Yeoju Citizen on Sunday.
Manager Lee Min-sung has been known to mix things up formation-wise having used a 4-4-2 (15%), 3-5-2 (14%), 3-4-1-2 (11%), 3-4-3 (10%), and 4-2-3-1 (9%) among others.
Gimcheon Sangmu are expected to welcome Ko Seung-beom and Kwon Chang-hoon back into the side after being rested for the last match of the season against parent club Suwon Bluewings. Manager Kim Tae-wan has been a bit more loyal to certain formations compared to his opposite number Lee. Kim has set Gimcheon up in a 4-3-3 for 34% of the time as well as a 4-1-4-1 (18%), 4-2-3-1 (11%), and 3-4-3 (10%) among others.
Suspensions or accumulated yellows don't count in the playoffs with all players' disciplinary records reset.
Head-to-Head
Daejeon and Gimcheom met four times in 2021 in K League 2 with the latter winning three including 4-1 and 2-1 wins at Purple Arena. The most recent meeting ended in a 2-1 Gimcheon home win in September 2021. Only Park Ji-soo, who scored the winner that afternoon, and Ko Seung-beom remain as part of the team.
The other match ended in a 1-1 draw in Gimcheon. Daejeon's record against the army team overall, including the Sangju Sangmu and Gwangju Sangmu eras, reads played 34 won 13, lost nine and drawn 12.
What to Watch
K League 2 top scorers vs K League 1's fourth-lowest
Daejeon Hana Citizen may have finished second in the league standings but their goal tally for 2022 is second to none. The Purples scored 70 times in the league, two more than champions Gwangju FC and 10 more than the nearest competitors. The Purples, though, sit third for shots and fourth for shots on target but have been helped by having the most touches in the box and the most deep completions per 90 minutes in 2022.
Gimcheon, meanwhile, with 45 goals is the fourth-fewest in K League 1 but it hasn't been for the want of trying as the army side are fourth for shots and third for shots on target. An indication as to how Kim Tae-wan's side might play, also, is their number of headed shots - just 50 which is the fewest in the division - and the number of shots from outside the area at 210 which is the second most.
Key to Daejeon will be Brazilian winger Leandro Ribeiro who has nine goals and five assists this season while Gimcheon will be looking to Lee Young-jae who is sixth in K League 1 for deep completions and seventh for passes to the final third.
Gimcheon tend to score most of their goals between the 31st and 45th minutes (10), followed by 46th-60th (8) and 76th to 90th (7), and six after the 90th minute. and so concentration will be key for Daejeon.
The Purples score most of theirs between the 61st and 75th minutes (16) and 31st to 45th (12). 34 of their 70 goals were scored in the first half, 36 in the second with four in second-half stoppage time.
Where to Watch
The first leg of Daejeon Hana Citizen versus Gimcheon Sangmu takes place on Wednesday 26th October at 19:30. Follow the action LIVE, for FREE, in HD and with English commentary on
TV.KLeague.com.
Paul Neat
Managing Editor
