Match of the Round
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (5th) vs. Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - Sun. 18th August, 19:00
A statement win for Suwon on Monday night saw the Bluewings take three points from the league leaders. It now means that new manager Byun Sung-hwan has yet to experience defeat since taking over, with Suwon's last loss stretching back to May 25th, 10 league matches ago. In addition, with three wins out of their last five, the Bluewings now have a four-point cushion over the playoff-chasing pack and can breathe a little easier. They are now only five points behind second place, currently occupied by their opponents this Sunday, Jeonnam Dragons. Jeonnam head into this Sunday's clash looking to bounce back from a loss last time out, and a mini-run of two without victory. Their lead over third has shrunk to four points but, with Anyang losing last time out, top spot remains just four points away.
Jeonnam are also still waiting to exact revenge on Suwon for the 5-1 loss earlier in the campaign as the second meeting of 2024 ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to Kim Ju-chan's late equaliser for the Bluewings. These two giants of K League football, having been in the Asian Champions League as recently as 2020 and 2021, and with over 20 pieces of major silverware won between them, have their sights on returning to the big time. Suwon aim to return to K League 1 at the first time of asking while Jeonnam, having dropped to K League 2 in 2018, will be hoping it's sixth time lucky.
Suwon have dispatched the most shots in K League 2 so far this season with 346 and the most per 90 at 12.59, but slip to 12th for accuracy with just 34.7% finding the target. Jeonnam, meanwhile, rank seventh for total shots and seventh for accuracy with 282 and 39% respectively. But the Dragons are the division's second-top scorers with 42, from an xG of 34.73. Both teams have plenty of attacking talent, too. Fejsal Mulic is Suwon's top scorer with eight goals, while Jeonnam's Kim Jong-min has nine, Ha Nam eight, and Valdivia seven with five assists.
Team of the Round
Seoul E-Land (vs. Bucheon FC 1995, Sun. 18th August)
A run of three wins and just one loss in five has moved Seoul E-Land up to third in the K League 2 table. The league's top scorers picked up a 2-1 win over Busan IPark last time out, thanks to a brace from recent recruit Jhon Montaño. A total of 38 points also means that the Leopards have 12 points more than they did at this stage last season, thanks to four wins more, and four fewer defeats. The capital club are now just one point behind their total from 2020, their most recent playoff push when they finished just outside the top four. Seoul E-Land sit third for total shots with 319, third per 90 at 11.7, and second for accuracy with 42.9% of all attempts on goal finding the target. Leading the K League 2 goal chart is striker Bruno Silva who has 10 to his name this term. The Brazilian is third for total shots with 63 and first for touches in the box with 93. Up next for Seoul E-Land is the short trip to Bucheon and a win for Kim Do-kyun's side could move them to within a point of second.
Player of the Round
Lachlan Wales, Gyeongnam FC (vs. Chungbuk Cheongju, Sat. 17th August - 19:00)
Lachlan Wales has enjoyed an incredible start to life in K League, recording five assists and one goal in five appearances for Gyeongnam FC. The 26-year-old Australian joined the Roses in the summer transfer window from Western United and has helped the south coast side on to a run of one loss in five but with three draws and just one win, the task at hand now is to start putting together a run of wins and move up the table. His debut alone was impressive, scoring one and assisting two from right wing in a 4-1 win over Seongnam. The winger has, so far, shown 77% passing accuracy, 42% crossing accuracy, 30% success for dribbles, and has made 10 shot assists - averaging two per match. Up next for Wales and Gyeongnam is the visit of Chungbuk Cheongju to kick off the Round 27 action.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 27
A win-less-in-nine Gimpo FC take on an Ansan Greeners side this Saturday that's coming off back-to-back wins. It's the first time since July 2023 that the Green Wolves have won two games on the spin. It will be new manager Lee Kwan-woo's first game in charge of Ansan too, who'll know that a win could move them up a place in the table as the Green Wolves look to pull away from last place. Gimpo, meanwhile, need to return to winning ways so as not to see the gap with the playoffs widen any further from five points. Gimpo finished fourth last season and came mightily close to an upset in the playoffs.
The only way is up now for Seongnam FC who've slipped to the foot of the table. The Magpies take on the side that ended last year as the division's basement side, Cheonan City. Cheonan will be looking to keep their healthy lead over the sides battling it out in the basement and ensure progress on last year having built up a seven-point cushion over 13th. Kim Tae-wan's side are on a run of three unbeaten while Seongnam are now seeking a first win in nine. A Seongnam win, coupled with results elsewhere going their way, could see them moving up to 12th or 11th.
It's fourth versus seventh on Sunday when Chungnam Asan welcome Busan IPark to Yi Sunsin Stadium. The match can be seen as something of a six-pointer, more so for Busan who are five points behind the playoffs heading into the final stretch in K League 2. The Owls, meanwhile, who are targeting promotion this year, are only one point behind third, and will be looking to return to winning ways following a loss to FC Anyang in their last match.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 27 Fixtures
Saturday 17th August
#GYEvCHFC: Gyeongnam FC (11th) vs. Chungbuk Cheongju (6th) - 19:00
#GFCvANS: Gimpo FC (8th) vs. Ansan Greeners (12th) - 19:30
#SFCvCCFC: Seongnam FC (13th) vs. Cheonan City (10th) - 19:30
Sunday 18th August
#CAFCvBUS: Chungnam Asan (4th) vs. Busan IPark (7th) - 19:00
#SSBvJDFC: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (5th) vs. Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - 19:00
#BUCvSEFC: Bucheon FC 1995 (9th) vs. Seoul E-Land (3rd) - 19:00
