Preview: FC Anyang vs Busan IPark

After picking up two points from a possible fifteen, Busan IPark head to the in-form FC Anyang on Saturday afternoon in the K League 2. Despite struggling for most of the season, Anyang have put together a great run of results and another win would give them a real shot at the play-offs.

Last Time Out

FC Anyang continued their excellent run last weekend with an impressive victory at home to Suwon FC. Wesley Alex gave the home side the lead after a horrendous mistake from visiting goalkeeper Kim Da-sol. Under no pressure, the Suwon custodian walked the ball out of his area and inexplicably gifted it to the Brazilian striker, who promptly chipped the keeper from thirty yards.

Suwon equalised through their own Brazilian Alex just before the break, but Wesley Alex produced another classy finish for the hosts on the hour mark to reclaim the lead for Anyang. The game was decided with just under ten minutes left when Lee Sang-yong headed home from a corner, and the match finished 3-1 to Anyang.

FC Anyang 3-1 Suwon FC highlights.

Busan IPark continued their wretched run last weekend with a 2-1 defeat at home to league leaders Asan Mugunghwa. The match got off to a flying start with Dutch striker Arsenio Valpoort giving Busan the lead after just two minutes, heading in after his initial effort was saved. The home team's lead didn't last long, however, as Kim Hyun stabbed in from close range when Busan failed to deal with Lee Myung-joo's free-kick into the box.

Busan came close to retaking the lead midway through the first half, but Kim Hyun-sung's low shot was cleared off the line by the covering defender. The military side dominated proceedings in the second half, but they were lucky to stay level when a fierce drive from Romulo just after the hour mark struck the foot of Asan's post. Kim Do-hyuk also hit the woodwork from range as Asan pushed for the winner, and the goal eventually came on 72 minutes, Ahn Hyun-beom slotting past Kim Hyung-geun to take the three points back to Asan.

Busan IPark 1-2 Asan Mugunghwa highlights.

Previous Meetings

These teams played out a thriller at the Gudeok Stadium the last time they met. Ko Kyung-min was the hero, scoring a hat trick as Busan ran out 4-3 winners. It was the second time Busan defeated Anyang at home this year, with the sole meeting in Anyang ending in a draw.

Meetings in 2018:
Busan IPark 3-0 FC Anyang
FC Anyang 2-2 Busan IPark
Busan IPark 4-3 FC Anyang

The Adversary

FC Anyang had a poor start to the season and didn't win a league game until their twelfth attempt. With the league's leakiest defence they have continued to find points hard to come by for most of the year, but a recent upturn in results has kicked their season into life. Wins against Asan, Bucheon 1995 and Suwon in their last four games have brought them to within touching distance of the play-off places, and with the teams above them struggling for points in recent weeks, Anyang might just fancy their chances of sneaking into the top four.

Who To Watch 

FC Anyang's Brazilian striker Wesley Alex tops the K League 2 goal scoring charts with 11 goals from 22 appearances. The 30 year-old has been in Asia since 2013, having enjoyed successful spells in Korea with Goyang Zaicro, Daegu FC and Seoul E-Land, as well as a year and a half with Thai side Chainat Hornbill. His two goals last weekend were expertly taken, and Busan will know all about the threat he poses after he bagged two goals off the bench the last time these sides met.

Prediction

Busan are going through their worst run of the season while Anyang have their tails up. Busan have had the edge in previous meetings this year, but if form is anything to go by then Anyang's unlikely charge towards the playoffs could gather more steam this weekend.

FC Anyang 2-1 Busan IPark