Preview: Ansan Greeners Vs Bucheon 1995

This weekend's K League 2 action sees table topping Bucheon 1995 visit the Wa Stadium hoping to arrest a recent poor run of form against Ansan Greeners.

Last Time Out

Bucheon have lost their last two matches after winning their opening five. A 4-2 defeat at Asan followed by a 2-1 defeat in Seongnam last weekend have put the brakes on what looked like an early charge to claiming the K League 2 title. Ansan lie just three points behind their Gyeonggi rivals having had a surprisingly successful start to the season, and are unbeaten in their last six. A 0-0 draw down in Gwangju would have been seen as a decent result had it not been for a missed penalty by Han Geonyeong.

Previous Meetings

Bucheon won three of the encounters between the two sides last season, with the most recent fixture being a 1-1 draw in Bucheon back in October. That game was a heated affair with Ansan leading through Raul Terragona before a straight red for Park Hunhee and an injury time equaliser from the spot by Moon Kihan left a bitter taste in Green Wolf mouths.

Team News

Bucheon have the top scorer in the league in Brazilian Willian Popp on five goals, but he is suspended for this fixture after collecting two yellow cards against Seongnam. They also have another deadly forward in Gong Minhyun on four goals though. Bucheon average 2.1 goals a game this season, compared to Ansan’s 1.0. Even Bucheon midfielder Jin Changsoo has scored more (two) than any of Ansan’s players. A stat that may have led to more dropped points if it weren't for the outstanding play of Greeners' shot stopper Lee Heeseong, who unfortunately was taken off injured last weekend. However, deputy keeper Hwang Seongmin had a great season last year and will need to recapture that form fast to keep Bucheon off the board.

On the other side of the pitch, Ansan just are not finding goals this season, and confusion still reigns as to who the main forwards should be. The decision to have Han Geonyeong take the penalty against Gwangju over Seku Conneh was puzzling on two fronts given that Geonyeong had come back on after running off an injury and Conneh had already netted from the spot earlier in the season. Still, in spite of the attacking woes the focus will be on Ansan’s back line to keep Bucheon at bay and that could result in a more conservative system from the Greeners this Sunday.

Prediction

Bucheon will be desperate to recapture their early season form, and they have still been in the goals in their previous two defeats. With Ansan’s forward line-up still undefined, and deputy goalkeeper Hwang Seongmin not having had a full 90 minutes in the K League this season, it is hard not to see Bucheon coming away with the spoils.

Predicted Score: Ansan Greeners 0 - 1 Bucheon 1995