Preview: FC Anyang vs Ansan Greeners

The last line 4 derby of the season sees Ansan travel to Anyang, with Anyang still in with a mathematical chance of the playoffs and Ansan looking to avoid finishing bottom.
(image via facebook.com/ansanfc)

Last Time Out

Ansan picked up a 2-0 win away to Suwon with Raul Tarragona getting a brace while Anyang saw their promotion hopes take a huge blow with a 3-1 defeat at home to Asan.

Previous Meetings

This is the 16th Line 4 derby. This season both sides have won and shared a draw. Anyang  just have the upper hand historically, winning 6 of the encounters to Ansan's  5.

Prediction

In the last Line 4 derby of the 2016 season, Ansan went to Anyang and won the K League Challenge title in some style, coming back from a 2 goal deficit. This year, Ansan 3.0 are coming to Anyang to avoid finishing at the opposite end of the table. Anyang still have a chance of finishing in the play-off places, although it seems unlikely with them being 10 points behind Seongnam with just 6 games remaining. Ansan will be looking to try and finish the season strongly, and possibly even above Anyang to whom they trail by four points. A defeat here however could condemn them to bottom of the table if Daejon (who have a game in hand) can win away at Suwon. Both teams are struggling for form however, having taken just 5 points (Anyang) and 4 points (Ansan) from the last 15 available. In that time Anyang have scored 10 times while Ansan have registered just 4 strikes.

The return of Raul Tarragona to the Ansan line up saw the Greeners earn an impressive win at Suwon City last weekend. The Uruguyan is currently second in the scoring charts with 13 goals this season, with only Han Gunyong (who scored in the 22 draw in August) and Jung Kyungho managing to score more than two goals this season, with each being on three.

Expect Ansan to line up with a back three of Lee In-jae, Song Ju-ho and Son Gi-yeon. The flat back four Ansan deployed to try and contain Busan two weaks ago still led to a defeat and with Raul back in the line up, Ansan should have more presence up the pitch. Manager Lee Heung-sil seems to prefer 3 up front, with 4 in midfield, which can tends to leave flanks congested causing the midfield to tuck in. This usually leaves the back three somewhat exposed which will play into Anyang’s hands.

Anyang are not exactly goal shy, and the Ansan defence has been mean of late. Anyang should eventually make the break through however unless Raul can inspire the front line again. Ansan could well be bottom come Saturday night.