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Preview: Jeonnam Dragons vs FC Seoul

Jeonnam Dragons welcome fellow strugglers FC Seoul to Gwangyang this Saturday afternoon in round 32 of K League 1. Can the Dragons win and climb to within three points of their relegation rivals or will the capital side finally find form? Aodan Halligan and Paul Neat look ahead to the big game. 

Game: Jeonnam Dragons v FC Seoul
Venue: Gwangyang Football Stadium
Kickoff: Saturday 4pm

Last Time Out

Jeonnam Dragons faced Asan Mugungwha on Wednesday at Gwangyang Football Stadium in the quarter-final of the FA Cup. And much to the dismay of the home supporters, head coach Kim In-wan fielded largely a second-string side for arguably their biggest game of the season to date. Nevertheless, the Dragons started well and took the lead in the 24th minute after Han Chang-woo's right-wing cross found Kim Kyung-min just inside the Asan penalty box. Kim trapped the ball with his right foot and then curled a beauty into the top right hand corner of the net, giving Ansan keeper Yang Hyung-mo no chance. And only the woodwork prevented the Dragons from doubling their lead eight minutes later. Kim Kyung-min was at the heart of things once more, this time playing provider, after a quick one-two with Choi Jae-hyun. But Choi's volley crashed off the crossbar and Han Chang-woo's follow-up flew past the right post.

Jeonnam were dominant in the early stages of the second half, too, and lady luck smiled on Asan once more as Yang Jun-ah's left foot volley inside the penalty box hit the upright and rebounded away to safety. Kim Kyung-min fluffed a one-on-one chance soon afterwards and it seemed only a matter of time before the home team would score again. But, the visitors had other ideas and in the 60th minute got themselves back into the game from a set piece. Kim In-wan didn't look pleased, though, after Asan attacker Lee Myeong-ju was afforded enough time to bring down a right wing corner inside the Dragons' six-yard box before blasting the ball into the net. The visitors grew in confidence after that and started to control possession, but could not add to their tally and thus it finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. Understandably, fatigue started to set in in extra time and Choi Jae-hyun became the fourth Jeonnam player to be replaced. Asan also made use of their fourth substitute, yet neither team could find a winner so the match moved into penalty kicks. And Jeonnam held their nerve in the shootout - triumphing 4-2 after Park Dae-han stopped Kim Dong-jin's kick- to advance to the semifinal of the FA Cup.

Full Time: Jeonnam Dragons 1 Asan Mugungwha 1
              (Jeonnam won 4-2 on penalties)

Highlights: here     

FC Seoul were also involved in a tight battle in their most recent encounter against Sangju Sangmu last Sunday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The capital side took the lead in the eight minute after Shin Jin-ho's left-wing corner found Park Hee-seong at the near post. Park, leaping from the edge of the six-yard box, glanced an unstoppable header into the top right corner of the net. But, the army team fought their way back into the game at the start of the second half with another set-piece goal. Seoul keeper Yoo Sang-hoon will not want to be reminded about this one, though, as he spilled Shin Chang-mu's in-swinging free kick and Park Yong-ji stabbed the ball home from three yards out. In the 82nd minute Seoul appeared to have found the winner from another left-wing corner kick taken by Shin Jin-ho. On this occasion he sent it to the far post, however, and Kim Dong-woo leapt highest and powered a header into the bottom right corner from around five yards out. But just two minutes later, Seoul keeper Yoo Sang-hoon made another calamitous error - this time spilling Kim Young-bin's hopeful punt from the halfway line. And Park Yong-ji was on hand once more to pick up the rebound and give Sangju a share of the spoils.

Full Time: FC Seoul 2 Sangju Sangmu 2

Highlights: here

Previous Meetings

FC Seoul came out on top the last time they met Jeonnam Dragons on July 18th in Seoul World Cup Stadium. And the capital side had to come from behind that day as Heo Yong-joon put the Dragons one up on the stroke of half time. Seoul rallied in the second half, though, and Cho Young-wook leveled proceedings in the 66 minute. Anderson Lopes's penalty three minutes later completed the turnaround and Seoul held on for the win.

Jeonnam Dragons won by the same scoreline in the most recent meeting between the teams in Gwangyang, however. And they were also forced to turn things around in that match on April 25th after Cho Young-wook's seventh minute strike gave Seoul the lead. Lee Ji-nam's 51st minute effort for the Dragons restored parity and Vedran Jugovic scored the home team's winner nine minutes later.

In total, Jeonnam and FC Seoul have played each other 43 times, with the latter coming out on top 23-8. The remaining 12 games were drawn.

Team News

Jeonnam Dragons may have to do without the services of wing-back Choi Jae-hyun after Wednesday's cup marathon in Gwangyang. The 24th year old was stretchered off with cramp in his right leg and is unlikely to be risked on Saturday. Kim In-wan will also have to monitor Brazilian wing-back Wanderson as even though the Brazilian only appeared as a 60th minute substitute on Wednesday, he also looked fatigued at the end of extra time. Long-term casualty Ha Tae-goon will probably miss out, too, but the rest of the Dragons' squad should be in good nick as most were excluded from Kim's midweek squad.

The Adversary 


FC Seoul's last victory now stretches back to the middle of August, the Super Match win at Big Bird which now seems like an eternity. After that dramatic victory against the team's most fiercest rivals, it would be have been easy to assume that this was exactly what FC Seoul needed to kickstart their season and really push for, firstly, a place in the top six, and secondly, an ACL spot. Instead, Lee Eulyong's side are in a bit of a mess, a crisis in fact. Five defeats and three draws later and the team are preparing for a difficult trip to Gwangyang. Seoul have already lost there this season and, if they show lapses in concentration and complacency at the back as they did against Sangju, they may well be heading for another loss there too.

Seoul's back four showed signs a distinct lack of confidence but that shouldn't excuse the sloppiness and not even getting the very basics right. Case in point is the manner in which Sangju scored both of their goals last Sunday. Yang Hanbin was dropped to the bench and Yoo Sanghoon recalled and given a chance to be Seoul's number one until the end of the season. Yoo did not do himself any favours in that regard and had a a bit of nightmare of an afternoon. The 28 year-old spilled Shin Changmu's free-kick that allowed Sangju to level just after half time, Park Yongji needed no encouragement to prod home the rebound. Yoo's afternoon went from bad to worse when the former Sangju stopper rushed out and clattered into his own centre half, Kim Namchoon, when trying to claim a long ball from the half-way line, Park Yongji again on hand to mop up the loose ball. This was just minutes after Seoul had regained their lead via a thumping Kim Dongwoo header from a corner in the 83rd minute. There's errors in this FC Seoul back four and now Lee Eulyong has decisions to make: does he stick with Yoo Sanghoon after such a calamitous display, or does he recall the ever-reliable Yang Hanbin?

At the other end of the pitch FC Seoul did what FC Seoul have done all season, huff and puff but never really looked like threatening from open play. But, as was the case against Sangju, the height of Kim Dongwoo, Park Heeseong and Bojan Matic, could be how Seoul try to steal a win. Caretaker boss Lee Eulyong has seldom wandered from his favoured 4-1-2-3/4-1-4-1 formation but with the capital club desperate for a win, the former Korean international midfielder may opt for a back three with wing backs. The central midfield partnership of Ha Daesung and Shin Jinho has added an extra dimension to how Seoul play, it is now a case of turning possession into chances. Saturday's game is huge for both teams and it may well come down to who wants it more.

- Paul Neat

Who To Watch


All eyes will be on the goalkeeping situation at FC Seoul this weekend after the capital side's recent struggles in that position. Yoo Sang-hoon started between the sticks for the first time this season last weekend against Sangju, but after his two clangers, it's safe to say things didn't really go to plan. Therefore, Seoul head coach Lee Eul-yong has another big call to make this week following last week's decision to drop regular goalie Yang Han-bin (pictured above). And even though Seoul have only managed to keep one clean sheet in Yang's last 10 games, he remains one of the best keepers in K League 1 and thus could be brought back into the team this Saturday. Jeonnam's attack has been revitalized under new head coach Kim In-wan so whoever starts in goal for Seoul, should be in for a busy afternoon and could have a major bearing on the final result.

Prediction

Jeonnam will be fresh and well up for this match, but so will Seoul and since both teams have a lot to lose, I think this one will end in a score draw.

Jeonnam Dragons 2 - 2 FC Seoul

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