This season’s second ‘Moonlight Derby’ will be held.
Daegu FC and Gwangju FC will play the 13th round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023 at the Gwangju Soccer Stadium on the 13th. The meeting between two teams in the K-League is called ‘Moonlight Derby’. It is derived from Daegu’s old name Dalgubeol’s ‘moon’ and Gwangju’s old name Bitgoeul’s ‘light’ and hardened into Moonlight Derby.
This is our second meeting this season. In the first match of the season held at DGB Daegu Bank Park on the 16th of last month, a slugfest took place where 7 goals were exchanged. This is the second most goals this season after 8 goals in the 6th round match between Suwon FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen.
The game was also dramatic. The moonlight derby, which took place two years after August 20, 2021 when Gwangju promoted to K-League 1 last season, was ‘fierce’ itself. Gwangju took the lead 3-0 with Kim Han-gil’s opening goal in the 18th minute, Sandro’s additional goal in the 43rd minute, and Heo Yul’s key goal in the 4th minute in the second half. The weight of the match seemed to be tilting, but it was a misfortune.
Daegu put Cesingya and Edgar in at the start of the second half. In the 16th minute of the second half, Park Se-jin was added, completely changing the flow. In the 18th minute of the second half, Daegu set the mood with Ko Jae-hyeon’s comeback goal. Following Edgar’s rush in the 33rd minute of the second half, Ko Jae-hyeon’s toes completed a multi-goal. However, Gwangju Ha Seung-woon scored a come-from-behind goal in the 41st minute of the second half, and the match ended with Gwangju winning 4-3.
Daegu showed ‘salty defense’ by conceding 1 point in 3 consecutive matches after the game in Gwangju. Even in the situation where Sejingya left due to injury, he accumulated points one after another. On the 5th, Ulsan Hyundai lost 0-3 and the flow was cut off, but the atmosphere was improved with a 1-1 draw with Pohang Steelers just before. It is still unclear whether Cesingya will be involved. Other Brazilian players such as Baselos and Serato are also failing to do their part, but Daegu coach Choi Won-kwon benefited from using Keita as a winger. On this day, Keita scored an equalizer and 스포츠토토 gave the team a valuable point.
Gwangju desperately needs a victory. They are playing football with a distinct color unique to Gwangju, which actively presses the opponent by raising the line, but they are slowing down. After the Daegu match, they fell into a swamp without a win in five consecutive games for nearly a month. Three of the five matches were scoreless. A change of atmosphere is needed.
In the last 5 matches, Gwangju is slightly ahead with 3 wins and 2 losses. Ironically, both teams showed strong performances on the away road. Daegu and Gwangju each have 14 points. In terms of goal difference, Gwangju is ahead, 8th, and Daegu is 9th. Which team will go up by winning the ‘Moonlight Derby’?