Cheonan City FC is having a difficult season. The club ambitiously set out to challenge for the K League 2 title this season, but after 13 games, they have yet to pick up their first win of the season. They are in last place with 1 draw, 12 losses, and 1 point. The high barrier to the professional ranks is being hindered by another factor.
Injuries. The team is not at its best due to injuries in each position. This is especially true for the defense. Defensive midfielder Kim Sung-joo, as well as Shin Won-ho, Lee Kwang-joon, and Kim Joo-hyun, have been sidelined with injuries.
The loss of center backs is particularly painful. Lee Kwang-joon and Kim Joo-heon have not been on the field since the beginning of the month. Kim Chang-soo, a right-back recruited as a playing coach, is also out with an injury.
In addition, Chao Yeon, who has been the starting center back since the start of the season, suffered an ankle injury late in the second half against Chungnam Asan on the 20th. He fractured the lower tibia of his left ankle and will need to rehabilitate for at least a month.
Injuries to the back line are bound to shake the organization. Despite their ranking, Cheonan have conceded 31 goals in 13 games. They’ve conceded three or more goals in nearly half of those games. With so many goals conceded, it’s no wonder the team is struggling. 안전놀이터
The team doesn’t have a lot of depth, and they’re struggling with injuries. “We have a lot of injuries on the defense,” said Cheonan coach Park Nam-yeol. We are waiting for them to return,” said Park.
The team is also not getting much help from foreign players. Damir (Croatia) has been out for nearly a month with a nagging injury. Bakayoko (France) was also a late arrival and will take time to build up his fitness. He first stepped on the pitch on February 2 at home against Jeonnam Dragons.
Motta (Brazil) is the team’s top scorer with three goals. The team is looking to the foreigners to step up a bit, but they have not been able to do so.
“We are in communication with the club,” Park said of his plans to strengthen in the summer transfer market. First, we need a solid goalkeeper. The same goes for a defensive midfielder.”
Cheonan will travel to Jeonnam Dragons on June 27. With most of their injured players able to step on the field since mid-June, Cheonan will have a heavy task ahead of them.