Gimcheon Sangmu Aims to Extend Hot Streak as Struggling Daegu FC Visits | OneFootball

This Saturday sees Daegu FC make the short trip to Gimcheon to take on Gimcheon Sangmu, with the home side looking to build on their impressive start against a Daegu side that has endured a disastrous last few weeks. K League United’s Stuart Warren previews the action.

Recent Form

Having lost their opening game of the season 2-1 away at Jeonbuk Motors, Gimcheon Sangmu has been on an impressive run of form since and currently sits in second place, having gained an impressive 11 points from the last five games. This run of form has been, in part, thanks to some solid defensive displays, with the military side keeping three clean sheets during those five games. Their defensive record of just five goals conceded is also the joint-best in the league over the opening six rounds. In their previous match, a smart finish from star man Lee Dong-gyeong saw them run out 1-0 winners over last season’s other surprise package, Gangwon FC.

While the home side will be looking to keep their good run of form going, their opponents, Daegu FC, will be looking to end a run of three consecutive defeats in what has been a testing few weeks for the Sky Blues. After winning their opening two games and sitting at the top of the table, there was much optimism around the club that a more successful season was on the horizon. A gritty 0-0 draw away at Pohang Steelers in the third game of the season also added to the strong start. However, since then, there has been little to smile about, with three consecutive defeats seeing them slip back down the table. Their last match was a surefire contender for game of the season—an encounter that had everything. A late collapse saw them surrender a 2-1 lead in added time, eventually losing 3-2 at FC Seoul.

Last Season’s Meetings

The two sides met three times last season—once in Gimcheon and twice in Daegu. The first of these encounters was in Daegu on the opening day of the 2024 season, in which Gimcheon ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a header from Won Du-jae. The military side was once again victorious when the two sides met in Gimcheon on a soaking-wet June afternoon, with Choi Gi-yun and Park Sang-hyeok scoring late on. The last of the three games was in August in Daegu, where the home side put in one of their best performances of the season, resulting in a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Jeong Chi-in and a brace from Cesinha.

Key Players

While there have been some strong defensive displays from Gimcheon so far this season, it is once again one of last season’s stars who is taking the plaudits at the other end of the pitch—attacking midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong. Having been the side’s leading scorer last year with 12 goals, along with seven assists, the South Korean international has started this season in the same form, notching three goals and an assist in the opening six games.

There was much excitement among Daegu fans during the winter break with the return of midfielder Bruno Llamas from Busan IPark, and he has not disappointed. So far, he has been one of the standout players in the opening six weeks, scoring three goals from midfield—one of which was an absolute wonder strike from 30 yards against Daejeon Hana. The Brazilian has also shown great link-up play with his fellow countryman Cesinha, and if the two of them are on their game this weekend, it could prove to be a tricky test for the Gimcheon backline.

Prediction

Much will depend on how Daegu responds after the bitter disappointment of Saturday’s game. Currently on a run of three consecutive defeats, it is hard to see them getting much against a Gimcheon side that is flying high.