The top two collide this Wednesday when FC Anyang host Gwangju FC. Anyang sit 13 points behind Gwangju but have played two games fewer, meaning that a win for the Violets on Wednesday might just give the Yellows something to think about. Anyang will be confident, too, and welcome Gwangju in the midst of a 15-match unbeaten run and have won four of their last five. The visitors also have four wins from their last five outings but also have two defeats from their last 15 matches with eight wins - two fewer than Anyang. Anyang also have the superior shooting accuracy too with 40.8% of all shots finding the target while Gwangju's is at 38.4%. Anyang's tend not to come from outside the box, though, having made the fewest in that regard while Gwangju has the third-most.
The most recent meeting ended 0-0 but before that, in June this year, Gwangju ran out 4-0 winners. the first meeting of 2022 ended in a 2-2 draw. That was the first fixture between the two teams in three years, the season Gwangju went on to win K League 2. Gwangju beat Anyang 4-0 that season too but also suffered a 7-1 away loss that July. Overall, from 20 meetings, Gwangju have eight wins to Anyangs five and seven draws.
Team of the Round
Ansan Greeners (vs. Jeonnam Dragons, Wed. 14th September - 19:00)
Ansan Greeners may have felt disappointed with the 3-3 draw away to Bucheon FC 1995 last time out, a match that saw them take the lead in the 92nd minute only for the hosts to bag an equaliser two minutes later. But, the positives are that the Green Wolves scored three goals away from home for the second time in their last two away outings, are unbeaten in three and have just one defeat from their last eight and just two from 11 with five wins. Ansan have also scored three goals in their last three outings and sit eight in the table.
Ansan have been one of the most efficient shooters in K League 2 this season having despatched the third-fewest shots but with the second-best accuracy. Róbson Duarte has been one of their standout players this term and actually sits top of K League 2's key passes table, top for deep completions, fourth for second assists, and third for one-on-one dribbles. Another key performer for the Green Warriors is fellow Brazilian Canhoto who is third in K League 2 for through passes made per 90 minutes. Up next is Jeonnam Dragons at home, a side that hasn't won since mid-May - a winless run that stretches back to 20 league matches ago and have lost their last three.
Player of the Round
Felipe Cadenazzi, Seoul E-Land (vs. Chungnam Asan, Wed. 14th September - 19:30)
Seoul E-Land have won their last three matches, a run they last achieved in August 2019 in terms of league play. Argentine striker Felipe Cadenazzi has been influential throughout this run by scoring in each of the three victories. The first was the game's opener in a 2-1 home triumph over Daejeon Hana Citizen which was then followed up by what proved to be the winner in a win by the same scoreline at home to Gyeongnam FC. Then, at the weekend just gone, Cadenazzi opened the scoring from the spot in the 27th minute as Seoul E-Land ran out 3-0 winners away to Gimpo FC. That put the former Flamengo striker on eight for the campaign. Up next for Felipe Cadenazzi and Seoul E-Land is the visit of Chungnam Asan. The last two meetings ended as 0-0 draws and so Leopards boss Chung Jung-yong will be looking to his Argentine start to make the difference.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 39
Gyeongnam FC are at home to Gimpo FC on Tuesday night and will be looking to get their playoff push back on track. The Roses are on a run of three straight losses and have slipped to sixth in the table but a win over ninth-placed Gimpo could move them back into the playoff places.
Also on Tuesday, Busan IPark welcome Daejeon Hana Citizen to the Asiad Stadium looking to build on the Nakdong River Derby win over Gyeongnam. Busan have played two games more than Jeonnam in 10th but could move off the foot of the table with a win over Daejeon. The Purples, meanwhile, have just one win in five and are in danger of losing sight of third place. Lee Min-sung and his men will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run over Busan which is now at five matches.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 39 Fixtures
Tuesday 13th September
#GYEvGFC: Gyeongnam FC (6th) vs Gimpo FC (2nd) - 19:00
#BUSvDHFC: Busan IPark (11th) vs Daejeon Hana Citizen (4th) - 19:30
Wednesday 14th September
#ANSvJDFC: Ansan Greeners (8th) vs Jeonnam Dragons (10th) - 19:00
#ANYvGWA: FC Anyang (2nd) vs Gwangju FC (1st) - 19:30
#SEFCvCAFC: Seoul E-Land (7th) vs Chungnam Asan (5th) - 19:30
Where to Watch
Paul Neat
Managing Editor
