#POHvDHFC Report: Daejeon dig in to steal three points at the Steel Yard | OneFootball

The 2025 Hana Bank K League 1 season begins with Daejeon Hana Citizen stealing a 3-0 win at the Steel Yard from a shellshocked Pohang Steelers. Choi Geon-ju grabbed the new season's first goal before former Ulsan HD striker Joo Min-kyu's late second-half brace sealed the win for the Purples.

With a squad as big as Daejeon’s it’s hard to know which XI Hwang Sun-hong would pick.

He threw up one or two surprises with his selection for the season's curtain-raiser, with Kelvin given the nod to start on the right wing while Choi Geon-ju was preferred to winter recruit and one-time Steeler Jeong Jae-hee.

For Pohang, there were five changes to the XI that lost 4-0 to Kawasaki Frontale in midweek. Yun Pyung-guk, Lee Dong-hee, Shin Kwang-hoon, An Jae-jun, and Lee Ho-jae came in for Hwang In-jae, Jonathan Aspropotimitis, Eo Jeong-won, Hong Yun-sang, and Jorge Teixeira.

Daejeon were set up in a 4-4-2 with Masa leading a half-press. Choi Geon-ju attempted to pun full back Shin Kwang-hoon back by sitting high up for diagonal balls into the channel.

Pohang had a four of Lee Tae-seok, Jeon Min-kwang, Lee Dong-hee, and Shin Kwang-hoon, three in midfield, and three up top.

There was an early injury blow for Pohang, though, as An Jae-jun was forced off in the fourth minute, Hong Yun-sang came on in his place. An has struggled with injuries over the last couple of years, and Daejeon were said to be interested in his services before he switched Bucheon for Pohang, but Hwang Sun-hong wanted a player who was available to play right from the off last summer.

The first 25 minutes saw both team venture into the opposition box, more so Pohang with Lee Ho-jae and Wanderson having speculative efforts, but neither team had been able to take control of proceedings. Pohang, in fairness, looked the more purposeful.

Victor Bobsin registered Daejeon’s first shot on target on 27 minutes, but Yun Pyung-guk was able to beat it away to safety.

Daejeon took the lead on 31 minutes through Choi Geon-ju, squeezing the ball into the far corner with a delicate strike from just inside the box.

Choi had been lively, as he often is, but showed that he isn’t just a speedster and does have the ability to finish.

Daejeon players dedicated the first goal to fan Kim Ha-neul who was tragically killed last week

Lee Dong-hee saved a certain goal on 34 mins, clearing off the line with Joo Min-kyu poised to nod home Masa’s cross.

Pohang ought to have levelled on 40 minutes through Juninho Rocha but the Brazilian, making his league debut for the Steelers, managed to somehow send the ball over the bar from two yards out. A sigh of relief for Daejeon, cries of disbelief from the Pohang faithful.

Lee Ho-jae skied over a minute later but the referee’s assistant’s raised flag spared his blushes. Pohang were finding something of a rhythm between their front three with knockdowns from Lee Ho-jae getting picked up by Hong Yun-sang or Juninho.

Pohang went in at the break trailing, despite being the most convincing in the first 45 minutes. Daejeon were clinging on a bit towards the end of the first half and seemed to need half time to come.

Half time brought a couple of personnel changes for Daejeon. Anton Kryvotsyuk picked up and tried to solider on but was replaced by Aaron Calver, and Kelvin was replaced by Jeong Jae-hee.

Pohang switched Juninho Rocha for Kim In-sung with the former seeming to have collided with fellow Brazilian Bobsin just before half time.

Hong Yun-sang's gentle effort towards goal grazed the post for another Daejeon scare but Kang Yoon-seong was able to clear away the rebound.

Time and time again, Daejeon had failed to pick up the man coming in from out wide, and had it not been for less-than-stellar finishing, the Steelers would have been level or even ahead.

Another chance came on 54 minutes but was cleared off the line. The referee waved away any suggestions of handball but Daejeon's goal was living a charmed life.

With the ball just not sticking up front, Daejeon made a change just after the hour mark with Kim Hyeon-ug on for Masa who'd put a shift in but things just weren't clicking for the Japanese.

Pohang were the team that looked like scoring the next goal. Daejeon couldn't expect to defend for 20 minutes plus stoppage time. Joo Min-kyu has done okay on his Daejeon bow but was ready to come off with a more mobile striker in Gutek able to help defend from the foot and run into the channels.

On 70 minutes, former Daejeon utility man Wanderson struck a venomous free-kick but his effort whistled past the post. Some sections of the Steel Yard thought it was in.

O 73 minutes, Cho Sang-hyuk was brought on for Pohang, replacing Hong Yun-sang for the youngster's debut.

Lee Ho-jae had another snatched-at effort on 79 minutes, the two more changes followed with Eo Jeong-won and Jorge Teixeira coming on for Lee and Shin Kwang-hoon.

Jorge got involved straight away, picking up a loose ball lost by an ill-timed Kim Hyeon-woo dribble, but his effort sailed over the bar.

The 82nd minute saw another Daejeon change with Kim In-gyun on for goal scorer Choi Geon-ju at left wing. The visitors had struggled to get up the pitch quickly and smoothly all afternoon so Kim's introduction was perhaps something that was coming.

But then a Kim Hyeon-ug cross into the box made its way to Joo Min-kyu who nodded home to mark his Daejeon debut with a goal.

Daejeon had been the 'stealers' this afternoon with a real smash-and-grab away victory.

Incredibly, a third game almost immediately after, and a second from Joo Min-kyu whose deft touch into the back of the net from inside the box was met with huge cheers from the fans behind the goal.

Daejeon weren't done there, though, as Jeong Jae-hee nearly made it four with Gutek, on as a sub, picking him out inside the six-yard box.

It was an incredible second half that went from Daejeon digging in, to destroying Pohang in the space of 10 minutes.

Pohang will feel hard done by as the 3-0 scoreline doesn't reflect how Partk Tae-ha's men controlled possession for most of the game. However, it does reflect the difference in the two teams with Daejeon converting the chances they did create and Pohang squandering them.

Pohang had 15 attempts on goal with just four finding the target whereas Daejeon landed four on target from six overall attempts.

Attendance: 10,519

What's next?

Pohang Steelers are in AFC Champions League Elite action against Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim on Tuesday, 19th February at 9:00 PM before returning to league action next Sunday away to Gangwon at 4:30.

Daejeon have their home opener against Ulsan HD on Sunday at 2:00 PM.