Preview: Busan IPark vs FC Anyang

Busan IPark host bottom club FC Anyang this Saturday in the K League 2, hoping to end a run of two straight defeats to get their promotion challenge back on track. Anyang come to Busan's Gudeok Stadium still in search of their first win of the season, but it may be a good time to face last year's play-off finalists.

Game: Busan IPark vs FC Anyang
Venue: Gudeok Stadium, Busan
Kick-off: Saturday 2p.m.

Last Time Out

Last weekend saw Busan lose 1-0 for the second consecutive game. Their opponents Suwon FC deserved the narrow victory, not least because they played most of the second half with ten men following a red card for Matheus Alves ten minutes after the restart. The decisive goal was scored by Suwon's Park Se-jin after he burst into the box to blast past goalkeeper Kim Hyung-geun.

Busan created several chances but failed to break through despite having eleven shots, eight of which were on target. They came closest through Lee Dong-jun, who hit the crossbar for the second game in a row, and Kim Jin-gyu, who forced a fine save from Suwon keeper Kim Da-sol.

FC Anyang, meanwhile, come to Busan still without a league win after seven games. Last weekend an own goal by goalkeeper Jeon Soo-hyun condemned them to a 1-0 loss to fellow strugglers Seoul E-Land and leaves them three points adrift at the foot of the table.

Team News

After two defeats on the trot, Busan IPark coach Choi Yoon-gyum may decide to shake things up for Anyang's visit. While Busan tend to dominate matches, they have lacked penetration in the final third so far this year and Choi might look to freshen things up in midfield. Veteran holding midfielder Song Chang-ho is a steady presence in the centre of the pitch, but there are more creative and dynamic options available to play alongside Brazilian playmaker Romulo.

Vice-captain Lee Jae-kwon is an assured performer who dictates play and 23 year-old Lee Gyu-seong is another whose passing has been excellent so far this year. Both alternatives are capable of playing the holding role while also offering a wider range of passing than Song. If Busan are to challenge for promotion this year they'll need to show more of an attacking threat, and defensive midfielder Song could be the man to be sacrificed.

Elsewhere, manager Choi is likely to continue to rotate his players. Although the back four is largely settled, the goalkeeper, midfield and forward line are likely to be changed up. This could mean returns for Kim Jin-gyu and Kim Moon-hwan on the wings after they came off the bench last weekend.

Who To Watch

For Busan IPark, goals are becoming a problem. They have failed to score in the previous two games and have only six goals from seven league games this season. While there is plenty of attacking talent in the team, there are few natural goalscorers on the roster. First choice strikers Choi Seung-in and Alemao Junior have one goal each so far, but Busan may soon turn to veteran poacher Ko Kyung-min to lead the line. Often employed as an attacking midfielder, the 31 year-old can be a peripheral figure in games but he is also one of the league's best instinctive finishers. Ko notched up nine goals last year, and this Saturday he'll hope to line up against Anyang, a club he scored fifteen goals for in 2015.

For FC Anyang, midfielder Jung Hee-woong has been a rare bright spark in a struggling team. The 22 year-old former Seoul E-Land player has three goals from seven starts so far this year, which not only makes him Anyang's top scorer, but also their only goalscorer in 2018. Anyang will need the likes of Brazilian striker Bruno to chip in with goals if Anyang are to climb off the bottom of the table, but for now they'll hope Jung's excellent start to the season continues.

Prediction

Both teams have been struggling for goals so don't expect a goal-fest at the Gudeok. Busan have more quality in their ranks, however, and could edge it.

Busan IPark 1-0 FC Anyang