In reality, all six games could have merited a slot here but the Sunday afternoon meeting between 7th-placed Chungbuk Cheongju FC and Gyeongnam FC in 5th will have enormous ramifications on the playoff picture. A win for the hosts will take them above Gyeongnam, and depending on results elsewhere, three points could propel Cheongju into the final playoff spot. Gyeongnam's form hasn't been great after looking like genuine title contenders two months ago. Defeat here won't end their promotion dreams but it'll certainly make things very difficult.
Chungbuk Cheongju FC looked to be in pole position to snatch a playoff berth in their first season at this level, but recent shock defeats to Seoul E-Land FC and Chungnam Asan FC have halted their progress. Changwon-based Gyeongnam FC have won just two from their previous ten but found some form earlier this month, dispatching Seoul E-Land in Mokdong with two late goals. This is the third, and final, meeting between these two clubs this season, with the record reading one win for Gyeongnam and a draw.
Team of the Round
Busan IPark (vs. Chungnam Asan, Saturday, 18:30)
Korean football royalty, the last decade has been hard on Busan IPark. The four-time champions suffered a first-ever relegation from the top flight in 2015 and have spent seven of the past eight seasons in K League 2. Their transformation has been remarkable this term, after a gloomy 10th-place finish last year. With four games to play, Busan holds a two-point advantage over one of the pre-season favorites, Gimcheon Sangmu. Their run-in is tricky, beginning with a trip to Asan this weekend, but as they start their weekend before Gimcheon, Park Jin-sub's side has a massive opportunity to open up a five-point gap as we approach the home straight.
K League 2 is notoriously unpredictable, and IPark must show an incredible amount of mental strength to finish off the job. Their form has been excellent since the beginning of August, winning eight of their last 10 but two weeks ago, the leaders unexpectedly dropped points at home to bottom-side Cheonan City. Was it a minor slip or is the pressure getting to Busan? We'll know on Saturday as they face, on paper at least, a winnable game in Asan. Chungnam Asan claimed an unlikely win last weekend but their form is inconsistent and they sit in 10th spot. In the two previous meetings this season, Busan has collected four points from the fixture.
Player of the Round
Leonard Pllana, Jeonnam Dragons (vs. Gimpo FC, Sun. 22nd October - 13:30)
Leonard Pllana has been one of the league's most exciting players this season, and a big reason why the Dragons have notched 47 goals (only Gimcheon Sangmu and FC Anyang have scored more) from 32 games. The reason they're sitting just outside the playoff spots is because of frailties at the other end. In Round 35, Pllana was unplayable against Ansan Greeners, scoring twice and assisting another in a vital 3-2 win. Pllana opened the scoring and added the decisive third, both off his left foot.
But it was Jeonnam's second goal that caught the eye. Pllana received possession about 40 yards from goal, sprinted towards the Ansan box, and picked out Valdivia with a beautifully weighted left-foot pass across the edge of the box. The Dragons have reclaimed form after a rocky August and they will need their Kosovan winger at his absolute best if they are to emerge from Gimpo with all three points on Sunday. Gimpo has conceded only 21 goals this season, the fewest in the division. Dragons' playoff aspirations could well come down to this game.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 36
The weekend begins with the lunchtime meeting of Cheonan City and Seongnam FC. Victory for the hosts will take them above Ansan Greeners into 12th spot, a decent return for their first season in K League 2. Cheonan's form has been superb since mid-August, with their only defeat coming against second-placed Gimcheon Sangmu. Last time out, they claimed a credible point away to Busan. Seongnam, meanwhile, has endured a bitterly disappointing season following last winter's relegation to the second division and currently sits 9th with just 10 wins from 33 games.
Immediately following events in Cheonan, Bucheon FC 1995 will aim to take another step towards confirming a spot in the promotion playoffs when they host South Gyeonggi-rivals FC Anyang. Bucheon is currently 4th, six points above Jeonnam Dragons who sit just outside the playoff spots, having played a game more. FC Anyang are mathematically still in the playoff race, but they are in a dismal run of form, without a win since August 27th. The clubs have shared 10 goals in their two meetings this season, with Bucheon winless in the fixture.
On Sunday, Gimpo FC will look to continue their unlikely march towards the top flight in only their second season at this level. A win will all but guarantee Gimpo a slot in the playoffs but with four games to play, catching Gimcheon Sangmu in second is still a possibility, however unlikely. Standing in their way is Jeonnam Dragons, who currently sit two points outside the final playoff spot. Jeonnam's need is greater than Gimpo's and the Dragons took all three points from Solteo in June.
And finally, the weekend closes on Sunday evening as lowly Ansan Greeners welcome Gimcheon Sangmu to Wa~ Stadium. Both clubs are chasing entirely different goals; Ansan are desperately trying to stay above Cheonan City at the foot of the table, meanwhile, Gimcheon looks to close the gap on leaders Busan IPark at the summit. Gimcheon has notched 10 goals and 9 points from their last three games, which is bad news for Ansan who boast the worst defensive record in the division. Both games this season ended 3-2 to Gimcheon.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 36 Fixtures
Saturday 21st October
#CCFCvSFC: Cheonan City FC (13th) vs Seongnam FC (9th) - 13:30
#BUCvANY: Bucheon FC 1995 (4th) vs FC Anyang (8th) - 16:00
#CAFCvBUS: Chungnam Asan FC (10th) vs Busan IPark (1st) - 18:30
Sunday 22nd October
#GFCvJDFC: Gimpo FC (3rd) vs Jeonnam Dragons (6th) - 13:30
#CHFCvGYE: Chungbuk Cheongju FC (7th) vs Gyeongnam FC (5th) - 16:00
#ANSvGIM: Ansan Greeners FC (12th) vs Gimcheon Sangmu (2nd) - 18:30
Where to Watch
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