Week 1: Big Review of K League 2

K League 2 opened on Friday afternoon with six games evenly spread across the weekend. The remodeled Seoul E-Land were the big winners, trashing title favorites Busan IPark in Asiad. There was a shock in Bucheon, another in Cheongju, and Suwon Bluewings survived a major scare against Chungnam Asan. Anyang, flying under the radar, were very impressive in front of a bumper home crowd.

Ansan Greeners 1 (Lee Gyu-bin 13)

Gyeongnam FC 2 (Won Ki-jong 35, 82) 

Ansan Wa~ Stadium

1,419

It was absolutely freezing in Ansan when K League 2 kicked off on Friday afternoon, but was the cold air the reason for the low attendance? Ansan took the lead on 13 minutes through 23-year-old forward Lee Gyu-bin. Lee took one touch to control the loose ball and then beautifully volleyed home after Gyeongnam goalkeeper Ko Dong-min parried Noh Gyeong-ho's drive from 20 yards. It was Lee's first league goal for the Wolves.

Unfortunately for the beleaguered hosts, Gyeongnam have a striker of real quality in Won Ki-jong. Won scored 10 goals last season and is up to two already for 2024 after his brace. His first, on 35 minutes, was a good finish off his right foot after being left unmarked in the box. The second was even better. Ansan failed to clear properly and Won got in front of his man before guiding a powerful header into the corner. It was a superb finish and one which ultimately decided the game.

FC Anyang 2 (Yoo Jeong-wan 1, Danrlei 50)

Seongnam FC 0

Anyang Stadium

8,802

[READ: Anyang vs. Seongnam match report]

Anyang, too, was freezing on Friday and strong winds caused havoc with goal kicks and clearances. But take nothing away from FC Anyang, who were brilliant for most of this game. On another day, they could have scored five. The big home crowd will have been encouraged by the display of new Brazilian number 9 Danrlei and the hugely impressive Yagu off the bench.

Despite creating plenty of good chances, both Anyang goals were rather fortunate. A misplaced headed back pass eventually led to Yoo Jeong-wan's scuffed opener. It looked like the ball took a wicked bounce off the turf and went in off Yoo's ankle. The second, for Danrlei on the stroke of halftime, was purely down to a goalkeeping error. There was no danger when Yoo Sang-hoon sprinted 40 yards from his goal to meet a hopeful punt downfield. But the ball bobbled under his foot and into the path of Danrlei. The Brazilian rolled into the empty net from just inside Seongnam's half.

Bucheon FC 1995 1 (Choi Jae-yeong 37)

Cheonan City FC 3 (Yoon Jae-suk 16, Lee Gwang-jin 82, Paulinho 99)

Bucheon Stadium

4,030

Who saw this one coming? Had it not been for events in Busan on Sunday night, last season's bottom-placed club, Cheonan City, winning at promotion-chasing Bucheon FC would have been the story of the round. Bucheon dominated this game in terms of possession and chances created, but after recovering from an early setback, they were punished with two late goals as they chased a winner, first, and then a stoppage-time equalizer.

Cheonan's second, in the 82nd minute, all came from Bruno Mota's perseverance in heading goalward a ball swirling around in the bitterly cold wind. Lee Gwang-jin's finish was top-class. The third goal, however, was pure chaos. With the clock showing 99 minutes, Bucheon appealed for a penalty. Strangely, the referee was about to blow his whistle but played on. The TV cameras, focused on the protesting home players, missed Paulinho collecting a loose ball in his own half and sprinting towards goal. The Brazilian rounded goalkeeper Kim Hyeong-geun to end the contest.

Chungbuk Cheongju FC 1 (Yoon Min-ho 49)

Jeonnam Dragons 0

Cheongju Stadium

5,095

A league debut to remember for former Gimpo striker Yoon Min-ho. The striker scored the only goal of the game, four minutes after the break, and then received his marching orders deep into stoppage time. This result could be considered a minor upset despite these two clubs being separated by one point and one place last season. Jeonnam are an outside play-off bet whereas Cheongju are predicted to struggle after some high-profile departures.

Yoon's debut goal was beautifully worked by Jung Min-woo, a second-half substitute who came on one minute before his game-changing intervention. There was nothing on when Jung received the ball, turning away from goal. But he muscled his way past Lee Gyu-hyeok and fired a perfect cross into the path of the onrushing Yoon. The striker side-footed home for all three points. With time running out, Yoon was given a straight red for a vicious hack at Jeonnam's Choo Sang-hoon.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2 (Mulic 25, 45+4)

Chungnam Asan FC 1 (Jeong Man-ho 68)

Suwon World Cup Stadium

14,196

Suwon Bluewings began life in K League 2 with a rather unconvincing performance against Chungnam Asan. The hosts started brightly, but the energy and fizz had evaporated before Fejsal Mulic opened the scoring. 19-year-old forward Lee Sang-min broke down the right and teed up Mulic to convert from close range. Five minutes before the break, centre-back Jo Yoon-sung was sent off against his former club after bringing down the dangerous Juninho as the last defender.

With halftime approaching, Mulic was fouled 25 yards from goal. The big man dusted himself off and curled a beautiful free kick into the top left-hand corner. Suwon, perhaps inevitably with 10 men, sat back for most of the second half. The pressure eventually told, and Asan scored with 20 minutes to play. It was a nervous finish for the Bluewings, who had captain Yang Hyeon-mo to thank for saving them from embarrassment. New Asan coach Kim Hyeon-seok will have been pleased with his side's effort.

Busan IPark 0

Seoul E-Land 3 (Osmar 5, Byeong Gyoongjun 94, Park Min-seo 97)

Busan Asiad

4,691

On Sunday afternoon, Seoul E-Land saved the best for last, flattening last season's runners-up, Busan IPark. E-Land are considered a potential play-off contender after strong recruitment over the winter. Two of their new players, Peter Makrillos and FC Seoul legend Osmar, combined for the opening goal after five minutes. Makrillos' corner from the right found the Spanaird unmarked in the box, clipping the ball over Koo Sang-min into the empty net.

With less than 10 minutes to play, Busan had a penalty decision overturned for offside. Immediately after that reprieve, Osmar made an incredible last-ditch tackle on An Byeong-jun, who was about to pull the trigger. E-Land were hanging on but two goals in stoppage time put serious gloss on the final score. Three goals, three points, and a clean sheet make this the perfect start for Kim Do-kyun. For Busan and Park Jin-sub, have they failed to recover from three failed bites at the promotion cherry last winter?

Gimpo FC sat out Round 1.

Up next....

Gyeongnam vs. Busan IPark

Jeonnam Dragons vs. Gimpo

Chungnam Asan vs. Bucheon FC 1995

Seoul E-Land vs. Suwon Bluewings

Cheonan City FC vs. Chungbuk Cheongju

Seongnam FC vs. Ansan Greeners