Preview: Seoul E-Land Vs Ansan Greeners

For what will be the only regular K League game this weekend, Seoul E-Land take on Ansan Greeners this Sunday evening. The fixture sees two of the second tier's struggling teams go head to head at Jamsil. The rescheduled round 20 fixture, which sees eighth take on ninth, will be a game that both sides will see as winnable. However, Seoul E-Land have have lost two out of their last three and haven't recorded victory since these two sides last met at the end of May. Meanwhile, Ansan Greeners make the short trip to the capital on the back of a stretch of form that has seen the newly-formed team fail to pick up a win in their last four and with just one win early May.
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Image via Seoul E-Land Facebook

Overview

Soccerway.com

Soccerway.com

Last Time Out

Last Saturday, Ansan Greeners hosted the league's basement side Daejeon Citizen at the Wa~ where neither side had quite enough to take all three points. The game finished 1-1 after Citizen's Cristian Dănălache put the visitors ahead early on with a well-taken strike from just inside the area. But, with the Purples having a habit of conceding late goals and the longer the game stayed 1-0, Greeners always had a chance of getting something for their efforts. It was no surprise then to see the Green Wolves of Ansan level on 80 minutes to make it three draws in succession for Lee Heungsi's men. Jung Kyungho got the goal, his second of the campaign. His arrowed strike from the edge of the box hit both posts before eventually finding the back of the net.

Seoul E-Land, meanwhile were in action on Monday night when the Jamsil inhabitants left the capital and made the short trip south to Anyang. Anyang's form had been patch of late but given E-Land's run of seven games without a win, the Violets are perhaps rightly considered to be the favourites. Brazilian forward Lukian, who recently signed from Busan IPark, put the home side ahead from the spot on 67 minutes to get Anyang on their way. Just seven minutes later, E-Land were 2-0 down thanks to an emphatic half-volley from Anyang striker Cho Seokjae.

Previous Meetings

Seoul E-Land have done the double over Ansan Greeners this season having dispatched the newly-founded side both times these two sides had met previously. At the end of May, E-Land took all three points with them back to Jamsil after easing past the Greeners in a 2-1 win. Myung Joonjae gave E-Land the lead just shy of the half hour mark before Jang Hyukjin leveled for Ansan midway through the second half. Then, with the game looking as though it was going to end as a stalemate, Atsuki Wada stepped up to net E-Land's winner in the 93rd minute.

In March, E-Land ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a 67th Kim Minkyu strike, his only goal of the season in the white of Seoul E-Land before joining Gimhae City.

Team News

Seoul E-Land have no suspensions to speak of  heading into this one, nor are there many reported long term absentees. However, Alex who joined from Anyang recently could be in from the start. The Brazilian, who made 20 appearances, scoring four goals in Daegu FC's promotion winning season last year, made his first start for E-Land away to his former club on Monday. E-Land will be hoping that former Gangwon FC and Goyang forward can add some much-needed fire-power to their forward line, a forward line which has. In addition, 29-year-old defender Ahn Jaehoon, who joined from Suwon FC, could make his debut.

For Ansan, Song Jooho will be suspended having picked up his third yellow card of the campaign during the 1-1 draw with Daejeon Citizen last time out. Park Junhee, however, will be back in contention after sitting out said draw with Daejeon due to suspension. There could be also be a debuts for midfielder Hong Donghyun who joined from Busan IPark during the week.

Prediction

At the bottom end of the table, both Seoul E-Land and Ansan Greeners make up a mini league along with Daejeon Citizen, cut adrift of the playoff hunt. Whilst neither team are exactly in form at present, both will see the game as an ideal opportunity to get a win under their belts, perhaps more so Seoul E-Land who have already beaten Ansan Greeners twice already this term. But, there isn't a lot between these two sides which is perhaps what the scoreline will reflect.

Seoul E-Land 1-1 Ansan Greeners