Not only are local bragging rights up for grabs on Saturday during the first Nakdong River Derby of the season, but a win could also mean ascension to the K League 2 summit. Busan IPark in third host Gyeongnam FC in second this Saturday with just goals scored separating the two teams, and with FC Anyang sitting round seven out, a win for either team could see them move top of the table. Both are three points behind the Violets and both have scored fewer goals but a win by two goals for Gyeongnam or three goals for Busan would be enough to go top.
The two south coast sides have begun the season in fine form and remain unbeaten, both with three wins and two draws from five games played. Busan's Brazilian duo of Fessin and Bruno Lamas both have three goals each while Gyeongnam's own, Guilherme Castro and Gleyson, have two goals as well as one assist each. Lamas sits top for total shots in K League 2 with 22 while Castro is joint third with 14. Further goal contributions this Saturday could well put either team in the driving seat in the earlier part of this season's promotion race.
There have been 46 previous Nakdong River Derby matches in K League with Gyeongnam winning 23, Busan 15, and eight draws. Gyeongnam also have the edge in terms of goals with 56 scored to Busan's 52. But over the last 10 meetings, the record is dead even with four wins each and two draws. Busan, though, have socred 11 to Gyeongnam's 10. These matches are usually very tight affairs and there has been just one goal in it in four out of the last five meetings.
Team of the Round
Seoul E-Land (vs. Chungnam Asan, Sat. 15th April - 16:00)
Officially up and running for the season and into the next round of the FA Cup, it's been a productive week for Seoul E-Land. The Leopards lept to a 4-1 win over Ansan Greeners last weekend to earn their first three points of the campaign with goals from Lee Si-heon, Lee Dong-ryul, Yu Jeong-wan, and Bruno Oliveira. Then, following a 2-1 win over K League outfit Suwon FC, Park Choong-kyun's men are into the last 16 of the cup. Seoul now know that a win over Chungnam Asan, their opponents this Saturday, could move them into the top eight should results elsewhere also go their way. Bruno who, following two goals in the space of a week, now has six from seven Seoul appearances in all competitions. In league play, the Brazilian is the team's most accurate shooter with five of his seven shots finding the target.
Player of the Round
Shim Dong-woon, Seongnam FC (vs. Cheonan City, Sun. 16th April - 16:00)
Seongnam FC attacking midfielder Shim Dong-woon is on three assists already in 2023, the most among the Magpies so far this season, and is second in K League 2. These contributions have helped Seongnam pick up wins over Ansan Greeners and Chungbuk Cheongju as well as a draw against Jeonnam Dragons - a potential difference in five extra points. Shim also has six key passes to his name this term, only Park Sang-hyeok has made more at Seongnam and is enough to sit joint sixth in K League 2 in this regard. Up next for Seongnam and Shin is the visit of Cheonan City, the league's basement side that's yet to pick up a single point this term. It'll be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 7 Fixtures
Saturday 15th April
#JDFCvCHFC: Jeonnam Dragons (8th) vs Chungbuk Cheongju (9th) - 13:30
#CAFCvSEFC: Chungnam Asan (10th) vs Seoul E-Land (11th) - 16:00
#GIMvBUC: Gimcheon Sangmu (6th) vs Busan FC 1995 (4th) - 16:00
#NakdongRiverDerby: Busan IPark (3rd) vs Gyeongnam FC (2nd) - 18:30
Sunday 16th April
#SFCvCCFC: Seongnam FC (7th) vs Cheonan City (13th) - 13:30
#ANSvGFC: Ansan Greeners (12th) vs Gimpo FC (5th) - 16:00
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