FC Anyang v Gyeongnam FC Preview

The boys in red make the long trip north to play Anyang in the late kick off (4pm), of the day in the Challengers league this Sunday.

This will be a very evenly contested game for me this one.  Both teams in indifferent form, Gyeongnam in more of a slump than FC Anyang. Gyeongnam having lost their last 3 games (2 games in the league and the FA cup).   Gyeongnam sit 8th in the league with 4 points, just one win, a draw and two defeats from their first 4 league games.  Anyang just two places higher in 6th with 6 points, just one win and three draws and a defeat from their first 5 league games.  Gyeongnam will feel like they should have had more points they have currently have, with the fixture list being kind to them, with from their first four games, three were home games.  Only a point from those fixtures has put pressure on them to pick up points away from home.  Which as all Gyeongnam fans know, from the last previous season and before, winning away from home was a rare sight.

The southerners only win this season however did come away from home away at Goyang Hi FC, Milos Stojanovic with a late headed winner gave them a 1-0 victory.  It was a rather good start to the campaign for Gyeongnam, with a good point at home to Ansan 0-0 and the three points away in Goyang Hi.  It's all gone a bit pear shaped thereafter.  A rampant Sangju put 3 past them at home and won 3-1, then Suwon FC came south and took the spoils 2-1, with two goals in the first half proving to be too much to peg back for Gyeongnam in the second half in the driving rain.

Anyang have been the draw specialists it seems this season drawing 3 of their first 5 games, but they do boast the leagues top joint scorer in their ranks in Ahn Seong Bin (4 goals).  Ironically he played for Gyeongnam last season and before his military service for 3 seasons prior to that.  He scored a grand total of 2 goals for us in that time.  It seems the K League challengers league may just be his level.
They have an American in their squad in 26 year old, Austin Berry, on loan from Philadelphia Union in the MLS to add some steel to their defence.

They are a very organised unit from what I have seen of them this season and boast a lot of talent coming from midfield with bags of energy.

Gyeongnam will settle for a point from the looking at the two squads and the current form of both sides.  Although Gyeongnam haven't played that badly this season, the squad was ripped apart in the off season and only 5 of the current squad from last season remain.  It's a slow process getting a squad to compete at this level, but Gyeongnam do have the services of Korea U20 international left back, #12 Jeon Sang Hoon and Korea U20 international midfielder #20 Jeong Hyeon Chul.

The game will be won or lost in the middle of the park.  The reds in their last game against Suwon lost every second ball in midfield and went in 2-0 down at the break.  Second half they changed their shape and in the end lost 2-1, but it was a much improved second half performance.

A win for either side will see them move up the table nicely depending on how the other results pan out over the weekend.  Anyang can move up to the lofty heights of joint 2nd with 9 points with a win and Gyeongnam could go up to 5th with 7 points if they take the spoils.

Both teams will think they can win this, more so Anyang with home advantage being on their side. Gyeongnam won't go down with out a fight with Milos Stojanovic leading the line for Gyeongnam. A player who always gives 100% and wins most of his headers and links up play very nicely. Gyeongnam also have a bit of a dead ball specialist in #10 Song Soo Young to whip in corners and free kicks.  Can't see this having many goals in it.

The game has been dubbed Lady's day at the Anyang stadium.  So the ladies can get in free of charge. Expect lots of screaming school girls and cheering of the high pitched variety.
Prediction.  A scrappy 1-1.