Kim Da-sol dreams big as Anyang face their date with destiny

FC Anyang face Cheonan City FC on Saturday night knowing a win puts automatic promotion within touching distance. The Violets are top of K League 2 with a game in hand, but nothing can be taken for granted in this league.

Kim Da-sol entered the room looking as confident and assured as he has between the sticks all season. FC Anyang's number 1 goalkeeper, recruited over the winter from promotion rivals Jeonnam Dragons, didn't look fazed as he sat down for what must be a very rare interview with a foreign reporter. Anyang have more important things to consider than a sit-down with K League United, as Kim insisted the stresses of promotion are beginning to show.

The 35-year-old has kept 10 clean sheets this term as his club looks to finally reach the promised land. With a new stadium nearing construction, FC Anyang have some grand plans. All they need is a team playing at the highest level. One thing is for sure; the club are getting all the help they can get, and that includes from the very top.

"Our fans have always wanted to go to K League 1," the goalkeeper responds when asked if the message from the coaches since he arrived, has been about playing in the top tier. "But especially the Mayor of Anyang City. He's a very good man and always has an interest in our team. Everyone wants us to get promoted, including me. I hope we finish top and earn that promotion."

Before entertaining talking of promotion, Anyang must first negotiate their way past Cheonan City FC this Saturday at home. Anyang's record is perfect against their opponent this season - played two, six points, and no goals conceded - but nothing can be taken for granted in this league. Memories of the defeat at lowly Ansan Greeners are fresh. 

However, our players are doing their best. We must take these three points.

"The Cheonan match is very important but we have prepared well. We lost against Suwon Samsung and then drew with Seongnam, so all the players want these three points. Our players are showing their talent in training. But we have pressure about this game and everyone feels the stress. However, our players are doing their best. We must take these three points."

And Kim is right. Anyang's form has tapered off in the dog days of the Korean summer. Three of their six defeats have come since June, meaning the gap at the top has been whittled down to just four points. But Anyang have a game in hand, and their closest rivals, Jeonnam Dragons, have a tricky fixture in Solteo on Sunday. All going well, the Violets will be seven points clear with their feet up as Jeonnan takes the field in Gimpo.

Cheonan, however, are no pushovers. This is their second season at this level, but they've already accumulated more points than in 2023. In reality, their season is done but they can still try to finish as high as possible. In Bruno Mota, they boast the league's top goalscorer and whilst the deadly Paulinho may have departed for Suwon, the man who went in the other direction, Toungara, is having a big impact already.

Kim is ready for the Cheonan threats. "As a goalkeeper, I think every player is a danger, but especially Mota and Aboubacar Ibrahima Toungara. Since leaving Suwon Samsung, Toungara has scored two goals in two games, so we have to be especially careful with Toungara." It seems a little ironic that the man discarded by the Bluewings is having a bigger impact at his new club than the man who replaced him, but these are the early weeks of the Toungara-Paulinho swap. Either way, Kim knows Anyang have to defend strongly for the full 90 minutes to keep the duo quiet on Saturday.

Anyang can't guarantee three points in the dangerous waters of the second division, but one thing they can be assured of is a bumper crowd at their old fortress by the river. Only Suwon Bluewings - unsurprisingly - have welcomed more fans through the turnstiles than Anyang this season. The giant keeper was quick to heap praise on their supporters.

"Our home matches, and even our away games, so many fans come to watch us play. We must go up for them, On the last day of the season, I want to smile with our supporters."

The one-time Jennam and Suwon goalkeeper must enjoy the novelty of seeing his former clubs below Anyang in the table, but Kim insists he has no thoughts for them now. Interestingly, he said he made mistakes in the past against Jeonnam and Suwon, as he looked to make an impression, but then he learned to follow the team's style and stopped worrying about other clubs.

To achieve their goal, Anyang need all the help they can get. From the Mayor right down. Promotion is at their fingertips. Beat Cheonan on Saturday and maybe they can dream some more.