Promotion-Relegation Playoff 1 Leg 2 Preview: Daegu FC vs. Chungnam Asan
league2024.11.29 I 조회수 1580
Daegu FC host Chungnam Asan this Sunday in the return leg of the 2024 Hana Bank K League 1 Promotion-Relegation Playoff 1 looking to overturn a one-goal aggregate loss. Only two K League 1 teams have overturned a first-leg deficit and gone on to seal survival, but on both occasions, the aggregate lead was just a single goal as is the case with Daegu FC and Chungnam Asan.
Overview & Match Information
Fixture: Daegu FC (KL1) vs. Chungnam Asan (KL2) Competition: 2024 Hana Bank K League Promotion-Relegation Playoff 1, Leg 2
Venue: DGB Daegu Bank Park
Date: Sunday 1st December 2024, 14:00 Streaming: K League TV
First Leg
Chungnam Asan 4-3 Daegu FC
The first leg in Cheonan on Thursday was a breathless affair with seven goals shared between the two sides. Chungnam Asan found themselves 3-0 up inside the first half - and 2-0 up after 16 minutes - after a brace from Park Dae-hoon and a close-range effort by Juninho Rocha. However, Daegu pulled a goal back through Go Jae-hyeon on the stroke of halftime to set up a frenzied second 45.
Chungnam Asan scored again, though, making it 4-1 through substitute Denisson on 69 minutes before two strikes from Cesinha late on, one on 88 minutes, and one in the fifth minute of added time, narrowed Daegu's deficit to just a single goal. Both goals made their way through to goal via deflections so there's an element of good fortune. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams and has the potential to go down as a modern K League classic.
Away goals no longer count, meaning if the tie is level after 90 minutes then Sunday's second leg will go to extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout.
Highlights
Playoff History
Now in their 10th year, in the total 12 ties between a K League 2 and a K League 1 team, the side that won the first leg has gone on to win the tie overall on six occasions. On four occasions this was the K League 2 team - Sangju in 2013, Gwangju in 2014, Suwon FC in 2015, and Daejeon in 2022. Only two teams have won both legs, those being Suwon FC in 2015 and Daejeon in 2022. Only on one occasion has the K League 2 team won the first leg and gone on to lose the tie, that being Daejeon in 2021 with Gangwon roaring back to overturn a one-goal deficit to win the second leg 4-1.
The first three years of the playoffs saw the K League 2 team win the first leg and then go on to win promotion, the first four saw the K League 2 team win promotion with Seongnam going up on the now-scrapped away goals rule in 2016. In the last two seasons, three out of the four K League 1 teams have survived. Overall, six K League 2 teams have been promoted and six K League 1 teams have avoided relegation. Only two out of the last eight ties have seen a side promoted to K League 1.
Second Leg
From the 12 total ties, the K League 1 team has won five of the return legs - including the last three in a row. Sangju Sangmu in 2013 are the only team to have won the first leg, lost the second, and still won promotion. From Daegu's perspective, having lost the first leg, manager Park Chang-hyun might take some comfort in knowing that Suwon FC were in a similar situation last season but won the second leg at home and sealed survival. Gangwon FC did it in 2021, too, and in both ties, the aggregate lead was by a single goal. Overall, four K League 2 teams have won the second leg, five for K League 1, and three draws.
There may be some doubts about Cesinha's fitness with a rib injury having ruled him out of Daegu's last three matches of the regular, but having a hand in two goals in the first leg means Daegu only have a one-goal deficit to overturn. Cesinha is now on 101 K League goals and will be feeling confident heading into Sunday's second leg. His willingness to shoot from distance and on sight of goal is partially why Daegu pulled it back to 4-3. On Thursday Cesinha had seven shots on goal, more than any other player on the pitch, and three on target was the joint-most along with Edgar. Five of his shots came from outside the area. Being back in the squad will have been a huge boost for the Daegu players and fans, and with the home crowd behind him on Sunday, the Brazilian superstar will be even more determined to fire his team to survival.
Park Se-jik, Chungnam Asan
Pulling the strings in the centre of the park, Park Se-jik put in an all-action display on Thursday night and was key to the Owls moving from back to front in transition. His calmness on the ball, and willingness to provide an outlet even when under pressure, balance, and vision allowed wingers Kang Min-gyu and Juninho Rocha to flourish. Park is no stranger to K League 1 teams either, having racked up over 100 appearances in the top flight - he was on the books of Incheon United and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors earlier in his career. In Thursday's first leg, Park made 38 passes to rank seventh among all players who featured, 12 to the final third to rank second in that regard, while 11 forward passes ranked him sixth most among all non-defenders. Wearing the number 24 shirt and donning the captain's armband, keep an eye on Park's positioning and what he looks to do with the ball once receiving it.
Where to Watch
Follow the match LIVE, for FREE, and in HD on TV.KLeague.com.
