Preview: Suwon FC vs Ansan Greeners

Suwon FC will welcome Ansan Greeners to Castle Park this Saturday, as both teams eye their first victories of the season. Both teams, starting off the season with no wins in their last two matches, will be taking this week’s match as the perfect opportunity to clinch three points from one another. The question is, which team is more desperate to end their winless streak? Columnists Lee Youngsub and James Walsh preview Saturday's clash.

Last Time Out

Suwon FC 1-2 Busan IPark

Manager Cho Deok-je and Busan’s new signing from Suwon FC, Kwon Yong-hyun returned to the Castle Park bench but this time for the away side. Manager Cho, being the first manager in the history to have lead a team from its National League foundation to the then K League Classic by gaining promotion in 2015, still evokes nostalgic feelings among many Suwon FC’s fans.

Suwon were heading in the right direction with a goal in the first half from newly assigned captain Baek Sung-dong’s stunning free kick on the left flank. Neither of the players in the penalty box were able to block nor deflect the ball, allowing the ball to go straight in. However, Suwon’s hopes of grabbing three points at home collapsed 45 seconds after the start of second half, as former Suwon FC player, Kwon Yong-hyun netted in less than a minute after coming on as a substitute.

Suwon conceded another goal to a winger, this time it was Lee Dong-jun, seven minutes after their first. In an effort to stabilize the defence, Asian Games star, Cho Yoo-min was brought on in the 55th minute. However, Suwon’s already agitated defence allowed more opportunities for Busan’s pacey forwards. A penalty kick was given to Busan a shortly after with the help of VAR, after Diego was brought down. The resulting spot kick from Rômulo hit the post but Busan held on to claim all three points.

Highlights: here

Seoul E-Land 1-1 Ansan Greeners

Choi Ho-joo’s late equaliser earned Ansan a deserved first point of the year at the Olympic Stadium. Former Anyang striker, Wesley Alex put Seoul ahead on the quarter-hour mark with an improvised hook, the Brazilian was first to react to Lee Kyung-ryul’s blocked shot to bag his first goal of his second stint at E-Land.

But Lim Wan-seop’s boys were transformed in the second period and could have taken all three points back to the Wa~, as remarkably midfielders, Jang Hyeok-jin and Fauver Frank both missed penalties for the away side. Kim Young-kwang atoned for conceding the first one, after hauling down Lee In-jae, producing a wonderful one-handed save from Jang. Former Gyeongnam man, Fauver then curled the Green Wolves' second effort from the spot well wide late on, before Ishida Masatoshi’s lofted cross was converted by Choi Ho-joo at the death.
(James Walsh)

Previous Meetings

The head-to-head record shows that the Greeners have clinched the better results when these two teams faced off in recent seasons. From a total of eight games between these teams, Ansan have picked up four wins, two draws and two losses. Three of their wins were gained at Castle Park, which meaning that Ansan were somewhat undaunted at Suwon FC’s home ground.

Team News

Kim Young-chan, the go-to choice for manager Kim Dae-eui’s center back line was sent off in the previous game against Busan I’Park. However, manager Kim showed no worries to his exclusion in the upcoming game as Cho Yu-min, the team’s main center back last season is ready to replace him.

The Adversary

The Greeners will be without centre-forward, Gustavo Vintecinco again for this fixture. The 6’3” Brazilian is serving the last game of his suspension following the red card he received in the opening day loss at home to Daejeon Citizen. Choi Ho-joo and Ishida Masatoshi both staked claims for starting berths with their performances as impact substitutes versus Seoul E-Land. The pair combined to wonderful effect for the leveller after Lim Wan-seop brought them off the bench to replace the ineffective Lee Chang-hoon and Shim Jae-min at the start of the second forty-five.
(James Walsh)

Ansan Greeners lineup vs Seoul E-Land, K League 2 Round 2

Who To Watch

Suwon FC - Baek Sung-dong

Baek Sung-dong (C) scoring for Suwon FC vs Busan IPark in Round 2

London Olympics bronze medallist Baek Sung-dong is still remembered by many Korean football fans for his fascinating dribbles across the pitch. The captain has also made the team’s first goal of the season with his stunning free kick. Baek, in his third season with the team, has his eyes firmly set on leading Suwon to the play-offs. With an absence of Ansan’s first choice striker, Vintecinco, the game’s fate may will be decided upon Baek’s performance.

Ansan Greeners - Choi Ho-joo

Choi Ho-joo (R) got Ansan out of jail with a 96th minute equaliser away to Seoul E-Land in Round 2

Choi Ho-joo has made an encouraging start to the season and is in contention to play from the off in this affair. The former Pohang Steelers winger, who was the Greeners’ top goalscorer in 2018 with seven league goals, possesses great pace and trickery and will have caught the gaffer’s eye at the weekend following his introduction in the last half against Seoul. Choi won Ansan's second penalty of the afternoon after having his shirt pulled by Chikashi Masuda, the 27-year-old then later showed marvellous anticipation and composure to slot past Kim Young-kwang with what was virtually the last kick of the game to grab a fully warranted share of the spoils for the Green Wolves.
(James Walsh)

Prediction

In the previous season, Suwon FC was disgraced as the lowest scoring team of the league with only 29 goals in 36 games. Although there have been reinforcements to its front line, the past two games’ disappointing score lines only make the fans doubt what changes have been actually made. It could be a struggle for Ansan Greeners as well as they will be without Vintecinco. A draw between these two might be fair for both sides.

Predicted Score: Suwon FC 0-0 Ansan Greeners