Preview: Busan travel to Anyang for vital six-pointer

FC Anyang could move eight points clear of Busan IPark on Saturday evening in a vital game for the promotion chasers in the K League 2. The gap between fourth and fifth currently stands at five points, and Busan will be desperate to chase down an Anyang team that have beaten them twice already this season.

Match Overview

FC Anyang (4th) vs Busan IPark (5th)

Venue: Anyang Stadium

Time and Date: Saturday 7th August, 20:00 KST

Recent Form

Both teams have stuttered in recent weeks, with FC Anyang losing their last two matches to Gyeongnam and Daejeon, respectively. Before that, Anyang went eight games unbeaten to lead the division, but the recent defeats have left them four points off top spot, albeit with a game in hand over the top three. 

Busan IPark, meanwhile, have only won once in five games, although that win was a convincing 4-0 thumping of Ansan Greeners. Consistency has been a problem for the Royals all season. Busan remain the league’s top scorers, but last time out their defensive frailties were exposed once again in a 3-1 defeat to Daejeon.

[READ: Opinion: FC Anyang's chance to strike gold]

Team News

Defensive talisman Nilson Junior has been a big miss for FC Anyang in recent games, but the big Brazilian should be back in the starting lineup on Saturday after returning as a substitute last time out. Star winger Kim Kyung-joong, who has five goals and three assists to his name this season, has missed the last two games through injury and could miss out again this weekend. 

Busan IPark’s Olympic duo Kim Jin-kyu and Ahn Joon-soo are back with the team and in contention for Saturday’s game. Kim could go straight back into the starting lineup, while summer signing Renato Santos could make his first start for the club on the wing. Ricardo Peres could also reshuffle the defence after conceding three to Daejeon, with Hwang Jun-ho likely to replace Kim Seung-woo at centre back.

 

What to Watch

How much will Peres gamble? 

Busan midfielder Ryan Edwards will have a key role to play on Saturday.

Although only just past the halfway mark in the season, this game could prove crucial to Busan’s promotion aspirations. Win, and they will keep pace with the playoff pack; lose, and they will find themselves several points adrift of the top four. 

Busan coach Ricardo Peres has done a wonderful job at developing youngsters in his short time at the club, and fans have seen glimpses of the kind of football he wants to play. At times, though, the team has struggled to attain a balance between all-out attacking football and defensive solidity. Busan have the league’s best attack and the joint-worst defence, and although the back line has improved in recent weeks, it’s still hard to predict which Busan side will show up. 

Dire, unambitious performances against Chungnam Asan and Jeonnam Dragons last month were followed by a hugely impressive win over Ansan Greeners. As has been the case for much of the season, however, they couldn’t build on this win. The defeat to Daejeon last time out was not at all a bad performance, but it’s clear Peres is still struggling to find the perfect balance of defence and attack.

How much will he gamble on Saturday? A buccaneering attacking performance would be most welcome from many supporters, but that would risk exposing a frail defensive line (and one that conceded five goals to Anyang at their last meeting). Key to Busan’s hopes could be midfield duo Ryan Edwards and Kim Jeong-hyun, who will need to shield the defence and choose their moments to get forward carefully. Their decision-making could be the difference between victory and defeat at a vital moment in Busan’s season.

Who to Watch

Anyang – Maeng Sung-ung 

Anyang’s young defensive midfielder might have missed out on Korea’s Olympic squad, but the 23 year-old is still a vital part of this team. Maeng has started all but one of Anyang’s games this year, and he leads the division for dispossessions, while also ranking in the top ten for interceptions and ground duels won. He will need to be at his best to keep Busan’s creative forces at bay on Saturday. 

Busan – Lee Sang-heon 

Lee didn’t have the easiest start to his Busan career, often struggling to make an impact in the early weeks of the season as he was largely restricted to substitute cameos. He has become a key figure for the side in recent weeks, however, thriving in a roaming creative midfield role and often looking Busan’s most lively player. Kim Jin-kyu’s return and the summer signings of Lee Jung-min and Renato Santos could limit Lee Sang-heon’s minutes in the second half of the season, but on current form Ricardo Peres will struggle to leave the 23 year-old out of the side.

Prediction

Goals are likely at both ends, but Anyang might just edge this one on home turf. 

Predicted Score: FC Anyang 3-2 Busan IPark