Against the Odds: Looking Back at Daejeon Citizen’s Historic AFC Champions League Campaign | OneFootball

Daejeon Hana Citizen know which teams they'll face upon their return to the AFC Champions League, but who did they face last time, and how did their maiden voyage into Asia pan out?

Daejeon Hana Citizen have been drawn to play against Kyoto Sanga, Vissel Kobe, Beijing FC, and Kashima Antlers at home, as well as Shanghai Port, Kashiwa Reysol, Johor Darul Ta'zim and Gamba Osaka away in the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite.

Although this isn't their first foray into continental football, it will be the Purples' first time playing home and away in ACL proper.

Daejeon are in the AFC Champions League for the first time since the 2002-2003 campaign, which was earned following their FA Cup win in 2001. A lot has changed since then, both at Purple Arena and on the continent.

Daejeon Citizen have since added "Hana" to their name, of course, courtesy of the 2019 Hana Financial Group takeover, making no secret that the aim was always ACL qualification, as well as the expansion and format change of the AFC Champions League.

The format of the competition has changed a lot since the 2002-2003 edition, which had just 16 teams, eight from the West and eight from the East. It was played in a hub throughout March of 2003 in Bangkok for the East and Al Ain for the West.

Qualifying

It all got off to a very good start with big wins in qualification in November of 2002. Despite being a cup winner, Daejeon were required to go through two rounds of qualification to reach the group stage. The Purples entered in the third round, where they beat Monte Carlo of Macao 8-1 on aggregate over two legs, courtesy of a 5-1 away win - a match that saw goalkeeper Choi Eun-sung score and become the first goalkeeper to score in the ACL - then 3-0 at home to progress to the next phase. It was a tricky journey to Macau as Daejeon arrived a day before the match against Monte Carlo. Despite that, they scored four times inside the opening 20 minutes and eventually won 5-1.Citizen then beat Mohun Bagan of India by the same aggregate scoreline in the next phase - 6-0 at home, then 2-1 away. The India trip was even more ridiculous. Daejeon had to travel to Kolkata, changing planes twice. Kim Eun-jung and Lee Kwan-woo became seriously ill because they couldn't adapt to the weather. Yet Daejeon still won 2–1, with goals from Lee Chang-yup and Kong Oh-kyun.

Group Stage

Fast forward to March 2003 and Daejeon were ready for the group stage, heading to the Thai capital, Bangkok. Shanghai Shenhua, BEC Tero Sasana, and Kashima Antlers were Daejeon's opponents in Group A. All three matches would be played over five days in the Bangkok heat and humidity.

Daejeon weren't exactly flush with cash at the time, nor were they a team that had enjoyed much success - FA Cup win aside. In 2002, Daejeon had won only one of their first 27 league games, players were reportedly three months behind on wages, and there were even rumours that the club might fold. Yet in the middle of all that, they were travelling to play in the Champions League.

Shanghai Shenhua 1-2 Daejeon Citizen

Daejeon got off to the perfect start to their first ACL group stage match, taking an eighth-minute lead through Han Jung-kook. Kim Eun-jung, who got the winning goal in the FA Cup Final that earned Daejeon's place in the ACL, then made it 2-0 just before halftime, getting on the end of a ball from Jang Cheol-woo. Shanghai Shenhua pulled a goal back five minutes from time but Daejeon held firm and got the three points.

Date: 10th March 2003Venue: Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok

Daejeon Citizen 0-2 BEC Tero Sasana

The middle group stage match that proved to be decisive for Daejeon. Manager Choi Yun-kyum made a handful of selection changes, with one eye on the Kashima match. Lee Seung-jun, for instance, started in goal ahead of Choi Eun-sung, but it was a game that saw Kong Oh-kyun, Kim Jung-soo and Kang Jung-hoo all reportedly playing through the pain barrier with injuries.

Goals from Panai Kongpraphan and Therdsak Chaiman meant it was the team with home advantage made it two wins from two. It was the only match Daejeon had failed to score in throughout their entire Asian journey up until this point. The players actually went into the stadium early and watched BEC Tero–Shanghai together, waiting to see whether their own match would still matter for qualification. The BEC Tero–Shanghai match was 1–1 until the 85th minute, meaning Daejeon were temporarily in a position where beating Kashima would send them through. Their semi-final dream was over before they had even kicked a ball.

Date: 12th March 2003Venue: Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok

Daejeon Citizen 1-0 Kashima Antlers

After learning they were already eliminated, the players apparently lost their motivation. They'd spent the previous few days preparing themselves for a possible "winner takes all" game against Kashima. Then goalkeeper Choi Eun-sung called the players together in the dressing room and essentially said: we've already achieved something remarkable; let's finish by beating the J.League Cup winners.

In what was a mismatch of resources, Daejeon ended the group campaign with a 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers, thanks to a Papa Oumar Coly goal three minutes from time - Jang Cheol-woo created it from the right, delivering the ball for Papa Oumar Coly to convert. Jang had therefore supplied the assist for two winning goals in the ACL.

For Daejeon, 2001 to 2003 was a whirlwind few years with the highs of the 2001 FA Cup win, the lows of finishing bottom of the league two years in a row and winning just one match all year in the second, to then going up against and beating some of Asia's best. These players had character and beating Kashima proved that the 2001 FA Cup triumph wasn't simply a fluke