[부산] Busan, missed out on an opportunity to rise

Busan I'Park 1-1 Suwon FC

Busan I'Park missed out on an opportunity to rise to second in the K League 2 after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with a defensive Suwon FC side at the Busan Gudeok Stadium.

Suwon FC went into the break a goal up after a contender for goal of the season from Alex, before fellow Brazilian Romulo levelled the scores with a deflected free kick just after the interval.

A boisterous, loud crowd of 1,899 witnessed an exciting encounter between two teams highly fancied for promotion at the start of the season, but which have been unable to put together a solid run of form in recent weeks.

Busan made one change to the side which impressively swept aside Seoul Eland FC, with the injured winger Jonathan Balotelli making way for his replacement Han Ji-ho, whilst Suwon were unchanged from the side which beat Ansan Greeners FC 1-0, with veteran defender Adrian Leijer making just his second start of the season.

It was a game where Buan manager Choi Yun-kyeom will rue his team’s missed chances, as Suwon held on to a draw despite coming under intense pressure in the closing stages. In a tight first half of few chances, Busan had most of the opportunities, the lively Kim Jin-kyu teeing up Han Ji-Ho to shoot straight at the keeper, before himself firing a speculative shot from 35 yards.

However, it was Suwon FC who opened the scoring with a memorable moment of quality. Brazilian midfielder Alex gathered a clearance from a corner, turning to his left before firing a sublime finessed shot into the top corner from 30 yards, after Busan failed to close him down in acres of space. They could have gone 2-0 just before half time after Mo Jae-hyeon was put clean through on the Busan goal, however elected to go to ground after rounding the goalkeeper with an open goal gaping. The referee consulted VAR and no penalty was given.

With Seongnam FC, BucheonFC1995 and Asan all losing, Busan IPark came out determined and disciplined, pushing for an equaliser which came just 4 minutes into the second half. Busan target man Alemao was brought down in possession just outside the penalty area, allowing dead ball specialist Romulo an opportunity to craft something from 25 yards out. The Brazilian passed to Lee Jae-kwon, who stopped the ball dead to allow Romulo to power a shot towards the far post, but it was heavily deflected into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Though there was more than an element of luck with the goal, with the keeper stranded and with no chance of making a save, it was richly deserved on the balance of play. Over the next 40 minutes,

Busan dominated possession and created a wealth of chances to put Suwon under periods of intense pressure. A perfect cross from Romulo on the left wing was headed just wide by substitute Kim Hyun-sung from a great position 10 yards out, before Hong Jin-gi forced Suwon FC keeper Kim Da-sol into a good save.

In the 62nd minute, Suwon attacker Mo Jae-hyeon went down under no contact for the second time in the game, only this time his crime of diving was punished by the referee with a yellow card for simulation. Busan continued to pile on the pressure, with the impressive Romulo setting up Alemao again for a mistimed header, before firing a free kick from 40 yards which was spilled then scrambled away by the otherwise assured Suwon FC keeper Kim Da-sol.

Arguably the best chance came in the 88th minute, as Lee Jong-min’s cross split the defence and put Kim Hyun-sung through on goal, however he failed to get a shot away with just the keeper to beat and Suwon hurriedly cleared their lines. The full-time whistle blew, and a resolute and highly defensive Suwon FC outfit, led well by busy centre backs Kim Byeom-yeon and former Australian international Adrian Leijer, held on.

Suwon FC remain 9th in the table whilst Busan IPark are 4th, 6 points adrift of Seongnam in first position.

Written By Todd Wilde and Phil Mason, IPark International Ambassadors

*  The Busan I'Park International Ambassadors are a group of volunteers and soccer/football fans from the expat community in Busan that are helping to promote the team to International and Domestic Fans around Korea and beyond.