Preview: Ansan Greeners Vs FC Anyang

Whilst eyes are firmly on the race for promotion and the playoffs in the K League 2, this Saturday will see the battle of the bottom, as Ansan Greeners take on FC Anyang at the Wa~. Two sides that have been really struggling this year, fortunes did change for the Greenwolves last week, as they claimed three points off highflyers, Suwon FC. FC Anyang on the other hand, have only one win in the last nine games and are desperate to climb out of 10th place. Michael Redmond previews this one.

Last Time Out

In what was a highlight of Ansan's season last week, they beat league leaders Suwon FC in a classic encounter between the two sides. It goes to show how unpredictable the K League 2 truly is. Suwon struck first in the game, as Han Jeong-un slotted the ball home in the 13th minute. It looked as if it was business as normal for Suwon.

Ansan responded though and equalized in the 39th minute. A lovely cross from Kim Tae-hyeon, was met by an exceptional touch from Felipe Augusto, who placed the ball into the back of the net, 1-1. Ansan came out in the second half looking for more, and more is what they got. Assister, turned into goal scorer, as Kim Tae-hyeon was at the right place at the right time. The former Seoul E-Land man was one on one with Yoo Hyun, and he put Ansan ahead. Ansan held onto the win, for what is a gigantic boost for the side.

Full Time: Suwon FC 1-2 Ansan Greeners


Anyang made the trip down to Changwon last weekend, as they took on Gyeongnam Fc. The highlight of the game came in the 51st minute when Baek Sung-dong smashed the ball into the roof of Anyang's net.  A powerful shot gave the Korean his fourth goal of the season.

Anyang did try to respond, they had attack after attack against Gyeongnam. However, the home team's defence was on top form and kept Anyang at bay. Anyang struggled once again in the K League 2 and fell to their seventh loss of the season. 

Full Time: Gyeongnam Fc 1-0 Fc Anyang

 

Previous Meetings

It was Ansan who claimed the bragging rights between the two sides when they last met in early May. A 1-0 victory for the Greenwolves in the opening game of the season suggested that maybe, they would have a good season after all.

The two sides last met in Round 1 of the 2020 K League 2 season.

The goal was scored by Lee Rae-jun, his one and only goal for Ansan Greeners. He now plays for K League 1 outfit, Busan IPark.  That has been the problem for Ansan over the last year, they have just been letting go of too many players. They have had a mass haul of good players gone from the side, and they just have not been replaced.

Full Time: FC Anyang 0-1 Ansan Greeners

Team News

There are no suspensions for either side leading into this one. Ansan greeners saw a good performance from both Felipe Augusto, and Kim Tae-hyeon The two paired well together, both on and off the ball. Ansan managed to score two goals against Suwon, after going a full month in July, without scoring a single goal. Maybe the win against Suwon will give the side confidence, in knowing that they can score goals. In saying that, they have only scored eight goals this season, and after 13 rounds, it does not make great viewing for fans.

Ansan Greeners announced the signing of Cardoso De Campos this week. Image Via (www.facebook.com/ansanfc)

The boss, Kim Gil-sik played 3-4-3 in the Suwon game, the added help on the wings proved to be Suwon's weak point. Ansan just ran at Suwon and did not give them time on the ball, they did not let Suwon sit back and watch. Ansan have been leaking goals this year, however, if the added help upfront is going to help them in the goal department, then we may see the same formation being played on Saturday.  Ansan do have a boost, however, as the signing of Brazilian Cardoso De Campos. Now with two Brazilians playing upfront for the side, we could see a new partnership form.  

[LINK: 2020 K League 2 Round 14 Preview]

The Adversary

FC Anyang have been having a nightmare of a season so far. The men in purple have managed only two wins so far this year. Their attacking is not too much of an issue, already scoring 15 goals this year. It is their defence, which is causing them problems. They have already conceded 19 goals so far this year, the joint worse with Daejeon Hana Citizen. The side has only kept a clean sheet three times this year.

Nilson Junior has featured in every Fc Anyang game so far in the 2020 K League 2 season.

Anyang's main man this year is Acosty, the Ghanaian has four goals to his name, and is boosting the side upfront. However, they need to sort out their leaky defence, they are conceding way too many goals, and it is causing them some real problems.

What To Watch

Kim Tae-hyeon has been a fundamental player in the Ansan Greeners side this year. Having been one of the better players in a poor 2019 Seoul E-Land side, the Korean made his move across town in the winter. He has continued to impress in Ansan and his wing play strikes fear into many oppositions.

With Tae-hyeon scoring on the weekend and also assisting, it will do nothing but boost his confidence, and he will start against Anyang. He has played in every game for Ansan this year and is always the first choice for the gaffer. Kim Tae-hyeon could truly become an unsung hero of the 2020 K League 2 if he continues in this manner.  

Prediction

It truly is a tough one to call. Both teams have really underperformed this year, and the table shows that. With Chungnam Asan now seeming to find their feet in the league, both teams must turn up to this one. Whoever wants it more, will take all three points. I can see Asan leapfrogging both teams, regardless of the result, so a victory is vital here.

The K League 2 is really unpredictable and close this year, a win here for either team, followed by a good run, could see them shoot up the table. It is still all to play for in the K League 2, even though there are some truly tasty ties in this round of fixtures, attention does still need to be paid to this one.