Preview: Ansan Greeners vs Bucheon FC 1995

It's the final match of the season for these two bottom-half of the table teams on Saturday, with nothing to play for except for league positions. Ninth placed hosts Ansan Greeners are just a point behind seventh placed visitors Bucheon FC 1995, meaning it is winner takes all in the race to be the best of the rest in K League 2.

Last Time Out

Bucheon FC 1995 0-0 Chungnam Asan 

Being four points ahead of Chungnam Asan, Bucheon needed to avoid defeat to confirm that they will not finish bottom, and they achieved that with a goalless draw in their final home game of the season last Saturday. Asan striker Philip Hellquist had a goal disallowed for offside in the 13th minute and both teams tested each other's goalkeepers. No one could break the deadlock, meaning Bucheon are a point ahead of both FC Anyang and Ansan Greeners going into this weekend.

Highlights of the match can be viewed here.

Jeonnam Dragons 0-0 Ansan Greeners

It is perhaps fitting that the league's two lowest scoring teams would achieve goalless draws before their match against each oher, and that is what happened as Ansan followed Bucheon by getting a draw the following day, in a result that has big implications for the playoff race. Jeonnam clearly dominated proceedings, regularly peppering the Ansan goal with shots, but could not find a way to break through. This match may be remembered for its two red cards. Jeonnam's Lee Jong-ho received a straight red card in the 42nd minute for a high foot during a bicycle kick attempt. Just three minutes later, Ansan's Felipe Augusto earned his marching orders by receiving his second yellow card of the game. Jeonnam now sit in fourth place, while Ansan are in ninth, three points ahead of last place Chungnam Asan.

Highlights of the match can be viewed here. 

Previous Meetings

Bucheon have won six games in this fixture, Ansan have won five games and there have been three draws. Bucheon have scored 20 goals compared to Ansan's 17, and Bucheon have won five of their six victories away from home. The first match between the two sides this year was a 2-0 away win for Bucheon in May, with the goals coming from Lee Hyun-il and Lee Jeong-chan. The second match was a goalless draw at Bucheon in July.

Team News

Bucheon captain Kim Young-nam returns to the squad following his one match suspension. The club avoided any yellow cards last week against Chungnam Asan, meaning that all of the five players that were one yellow away from suspension can all be used in this final match. With league positions still to play for but promotion out of the question, it is possible that a more experimental lineup could be used on Saturday. However, coach Song Sun-ho has kept largely to his strongest eleven in recent weeks, so it appears as if he is hunting down the best league position possible. A win would almost guarantee seventh place for Bucheon, as Anyang would have to get at least four points from their remaining two games against Suwon FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen. 

This may give the appearance of trying to salvage a bad season, but for some Bucheon players this year has been a success. Defender Kim Young-chan, midfielder Kim Young-nam, and winger William Barbio have all been nominated for the K League 2 Team of the Season. Also, rookie defender Kim Gang-san has received his first call-up to the South Korea U23 squad for two friendlies later this month. There is talent in this squad and if Bucheon can keep a hold of them and make improvement then they could seriously mount a playoff challenge next season.

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The Adversary

Felipe Augusto is suspended after receiving a red card against Jeonnam. The lowest scorers in K League 2 have improved significantly since the beginning of September, earning 12 of their 25 points this season in their last nine matches. This could be because Ansan are a much changed team from last year and it took several months for them to find their best tactics. A side that can defeat Gyeongnam and hold Jeonnam to a draw deserves respect and Bucheon will need to be focused to ensure they do not slip up and lose their current league position.

What To Watch

Both teams are the lowest scorers in the league, with Ansan recording 16 goals and Bucheon with 19. As only two goals have been scored in this fixture this season, can there be more? Their attacks are what will likely be strengthened in the transfer window, so it is worth keeping an eye on their attacks this Saturday to see what works and what does not, and can any players make a case to be included in next season's plans.

Prediction

Bucheon only need a draw to ensure they will finish above Ansan, while Ansan could end up bottom of the table if they lose and Chungnam Asan win. With pride at stake and weakened attacks, this should be a low scoring and tense encounter. Either side could sneak victory, but Bucheon have shown slightly more evidence that they can grab the three points against Ansan this weekend.

Ansan Greeners 0-1 Bucheon FC 1995