Two of the league's biggest and most successful clubs, Jeonnam Dragons and Busan IPark, meet this Tuesday. The two clubs have 12 major trophies between them yet find themselves in the second tier of Korean football. The aim this term, then, will be to win promotion back to where they feel they belong - K League 1. Busan have started the brightest between the two clubs, sitting fifth following just one loss from their last five matches. Jeonnam, meanwhile, sit eighth but are just three points behind Busan meaning a win on Tuesday could put them into the playoff mix.
Jeonnam sit second in the division for shots on target with 48 while Busan are just a tad behind with 42 to sit fifth. So far this season, Busan have tended to score most of their goals in either the first 15 minutes or the last 15 of matches. Jeonnam tend to score most of their goals in the last 15 and are yet to score in the first 15 minutes this term. When Busan score first, they tend to go on and win the game, winning four from four. Jeonnam have gone ahead in six matches this season, won four, drawn one, and lost one. The first goal will be key come Tuesday night.
Brazilian duo Bruno Lamas (Busan) and Valdivia (Jeonnam) lead the league for shots on target with the former managing 15 and the latter 14. The two also lead the division for shots from outside the box with Lamas registering 27 and Valdivia 22. Tuesday's clash is the 85th between the two sides, Jeonnam have 36 wins to Busan's 28 and 20 draws. Over the last 10, Jeonnam have won four, Busan two, and four draws. In K League 2, there have been 12 previous meetings with Jeonnam winning five of them, Busan three, and four draws.
Team of the Round
Gimpo FC (vs. Seongnam FC, Wed. 3rd May - 19:30)
Gimpo FC's sensational start to the 2023 season continued on Sunday with a 2-0 win away to Gimcheon Sangmu. Heading into the match, Gimcheon and Gimpo had been level on points at the top of the table but the win, thanks to goals from Pablo González and Luis Mina, moves Gimpo two points clear at the top of the table. Ko Jeong-woon's men also remain unbeaten with six wins and three draws. Gimpo have been one of the most economical teams in K League 2 thus far in terms of the number of shots compared to how many hit the target. Overall, Gimpo are 11th for total shits with 98 but their shots on target tally is the joint-third best with 43. Pablo González has four goal contributions in his last five matches for Gimpo having recorded an assist versus Ansan Greeners, scored versus FC Anyang, and got one of each against Gimcheon. Up next for Gimpo is the visit of Seongnam FC on Wednesday for what will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Player of the Round
An Jae-jun, Bucheon FC 1995 (vs. Chungnam Asan, Tue. 2nd May - 19:30)
Back in action after sitting Round 10 out, Bucheon FC 1995 welcome Chungnam Asan to Hermes Castle on Tuesday night looking to build on the 4-1 win in the previous round. The Reds overcome Chungbuk Cheongju 4-0 for what was a first win in five matches. On the scoresheet for the fourth and fifth time this campaign was 22-year-old forward An Jae-jun. An has already beaten his goal tally from last season (4) despite making just four starts for Lee Young-min. Five goals puts the Korean youth international as the league's second-top scorer with just one goal fewer than Gimpo's Luis Mina. An has had 18 shots at goal so far this term to sit in the top ten in this regard, eight of which have hit the target (9th). But 17 of his shots have come from inside the area and only Gimcheon's Kim Ji-hyun has made more (19). In the seven total matches that An Jae-jun has scored in for Bucheon, the Reds have lost just once (Round 6, 4-2 at home to Anyang)
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 11
Cheonan City are at home to FC Anyang on Tuesday still in search of their first win of the season. Park Nam-yeol's side lost 2-1 away to Gyeongnam last time out but will be hoping a return to home comforts will bring them more luck. Anyang, though, won last time out to end a run of two straight losses.
Gyeongnam FC remain as one of two teams yet to taste defeat in K League 2 this season having overcome Cheonan at home last time out. The Roses host a Seoul E-Land side that lost to Seongnam FC last time out and has since slipped to 11th in the table.
Ansan Greeners versus Gimcheon Sangmu sees two teams looking to return to winning ways. Ansan, though, are three unbeaten with two draws and one win while Gimcheon suffered their first loss of the campaign at the weekend - 2-0 at home to Gimpo.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 11 Fixtures
Tuesday 2nd May 2023
#JDFCvBUS: Jeonnam Dragons (8th) vs Busan IPark (5th) - 19:00
#CCFCvANY: Cheonan City (13th) vs FC Anyang (4th) - 19:30
#BUCvCAFC: Bucheon FC 1995 (7th) vs Chungnam Asan (9th) - 19:30
Wednesday 3rd May 2023
#GYEvSEFC: Gyeongnam FC (2nd) vs Seoul E-Land (11th) - 19:00
#GFCvSFC: Gimpo FC (1st) vs Seongnam FC (6th) - 19:30
#ANSvGIM: Ansan Greeners (10th) vs Gimcheon Sangmu (3rd) - 19:30
Not playing: Chungbuk Cheongju FC
Where to Watch
