Review: Gyeongnam FC 2-1 Bucheon 1995

An out of form Bucheon side ventured south for the daunting task of pitting their wits against run away leaders Gyeongnam FC on Sunday evening. Bucheon have proved to be a bogey side for the reds in previous years, but on Sunday night the form book was true to it's word and the home side took the spoils in an end to end contest, 2-1. 
(Photo credit: Gyeongnam's Facebook page)


Gyeongnam had a carrot dangled in front of them at the start of this fixture.  A chance to make history at the club. If they failed to lose it would be a Gyeongnam FC record of 15 games unbeaten in the league.

The first team news as I arrived was that our influential and main linch pin in the middle of the park #26 Choi Young-Jun was suspended after picking up 3 bookings. I honestly thought we were in for a tough evening. After all we never beat Bucheon.

The first half was a huge disappointment for the home side. Bucheon were dominating for large periods and the purples were knocking on the door for an opener early on. The home side's keeper Beom Soo was kept busy in the early stages of the game. Waguininho was impressive for the away side and was always full of tricks, plus he always scores against us and if proved no different tonight.  The game was becoming a bit of a foul fest and the referee had a busy first half booking 5 players, three for the reds and 2 for the opposition.

A sloppy free kick was given away on the right hand side of the box by Gyeongnam. From the resulting dead ball delivery the Bucheon midfielder whipped in a good free kick into the near post where the aforementioned Waguininho flicked on with his head towards goal and before you could blink it was in the roof of the net and 1-0 to the away side and more than deserved. The goal after watching a replay did nick off the right back #15 Woo Ji-sung head as it flashed past the keeper. The unbeaten leaders went in at half time losing and in truth apart from one good save from the Bucheon keeper from a free header from a corner, he could have relaxed and had a cup of tea in the first half. Improvement needed certainly from the home side, more of the same for the away side in the 2nd half and the three points are heading north.

Kim Jong-boo the home sides manager, like so often if not satisfied with the first half performance likes to ring the changes at half time. A double substitution was made bringing on experienced left back Cho Byung-kuk and attacking midfielder Ahn Sung-nam.  It proved a master stroke as within 2 minutes of the restart the reds were awarded a penalty.  For all the Bucheon players protests on further footage of the incident, it was a spot kick.  The full back Woo Ji-sung on attempting a diving header in the box was pulled back as he made his jump for the ball. Leading goalscorer in the Challenge and fresh after signing a 3 year deal with the club Marcao made no mistake and placed the penalty to the keepers left who had dived the right way firmly into the corner of the goal, 1-1 and game on with only 47 minutes on the clock. From then on in it was just all one way traffic with Gyeongnam starting to hurt Bucheon in all areas of the pitch.

Marcao calming slotting away the equalizer for Kim Jong Boos men.
(Picture courtesy of Gyeongnams FC Official Facebook page)

The winner eventually came with 14 minutes remaining and from an unlikely source in super sub as he is now known Ahn Sung-nam but he owed it all to the other sub Cho Byung-kuk. He made a superb jinking run down the left hand side of the box beating three men and darting to the dead ball line, he then beautifully cut the ball back into the on rushing Sung-nams path and the little number 8 just simply opened up his right foot and steered the ball into the far corner past the despairing dive of the Bucheons keeper. Cue bedlam, fans and players alike embraced. It really was a superb comeback and the managers half time subs have come to fruition, yet again. He really has a Messiah touch about him.

Ahn Sung-nam with the winner being embraced by Cho Byung-kuk

 (Picture courtesy of Naver Sports)

It could and should have been more as well. Bucheon committed men forward in a desperate attempted to salvage something from the game leaving gaps at the back and through the center of the park,  Bruno if more clinical could of had a brace. Cho Byung Kuk bent a beautiful free kick onto the angle of post and crossbar.

The unbeaten record continued for Gyeongnam and as a result the best ever unbeaten record was achieved for by the club. Victory 2-1 against a well organized a well drilled Bucheon side, who on their first half performance alone will get out of their slump sooner rather than later.

Next up for Gyeongnam is a trip north to play newly formed side Ansan Greeners on Sunday the 11th of June. Bucheon play a day earlier on the 10th of June at home against fellow strugglers Seoul Eland.