Wednesday 10th April is a national holiday in South Korea on account of there being a general election. For football fans, it's a day off to take in some K League 2 action with candidates for promotion looking to secure a seat in the top five come the end of the term. A look ahead to 2024 Hana Bank K League 2 Round 6 Preview.
Match of the Round
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (3rd) vs. Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - 14:00
Suwon Samsung Bluewings, founded in 1995, and Jeonnam Dragons, founded in 1994, have met 71 times before in K League but the 72nd meeting will be the first-ever in K League 2. The most recent meeting between these two K League giants back in August 2018 ended in a 10-goal thriller - Jeonnam 6-4 Suwon. Current manager Yeom Ki-hun played in that match, as did Jang Ho-ik and Lee Jong-sung who both remain with the club.
It's a clash between third and second with both teams starting the new season strongly. Suwon left it late to beat Chungbuk Cheongju last time out with boyhood fan Kim Hyun netting the winner in the 98th minute to move Yeom Ki-hun's men up to third. Jeonnam, on the other hand, are on a run of three straight wins, and despite having played a game fewer than Suwon, have one point more and sit one place above.
Suwon sit third in K League 2 for shots from outside the area with 29 while Jeonnam are 12th, preferring to shoot from inside the 18. Both teams will be looking to improve their shooting accuracy, though, with Suwon eighth (35.7%) and Jeonnam ninth (35.3%). The two teams have attempted a similar number of headed shots (Suwon 8, Jeonnam 9), but Suwon have the edge for total shots (56 to 34) and for shots per 90 with 12.23 (3rd). Jeon Jin-woo and Fejsal Mulic are fourth and fifth in the division for total shits with 13 while Jeonnam's Kim Jong-min is fifth for shots on target with 57%.
Team of the Round
Bucheon FC 1995 (vs. FC Anyang, 14:00)
Back-to-back wins and a run of three unbeaten has moved Bucheon FC 1995 up to sixth place and just three away from top spot. Bucheon overcame playoff rivals Gyeongnam FC in their last match on the final day of March and return to action after sitting Round 5 out. Goals from Jeong Hee-woong and Kim Dong-hyeon earned Bucheon a 2-0 win in their last outing. For Jeong, it was his first goal since the end of 2021 when on the books of Daejeon Hana Citizen. Bucheon have shown a tendency to work their way into the box before shooting and sit second in the division for shots from inside the box, and second per 90 with 8.5. This Wednesday, Bucheon take on league leaders FC Anyang in something of a Gyeonggi Province derby. Just 22 kilometers separate the two teams but over the last 10 meetings, Bucheon have managed just one win with Anyang winning seven and two draws. Lee Young-min's men will be looking to earn a first win over Anyang since April 2022.
Player of the Round
Luis Mina, Gimpo FC (vs. Chungbuk Cheongju, 14:00)
Luis Mina's second goal of the season helped Gimpo FC earn a crucial point at the weekend. The Colombian struck in the 76th minute, just four minutes after Seoul E-Land's Byeon Kyung-jun had given the Leopards the lead. His goals have helped earn four points so far this season after also netting in a 1-0 away win over Busan IPark. Luis Mina netted 17 goals for Gimpo last season as the club made its maiden appearance in the K League 2 playoffs. Up next for Gimpo and Luis Mina is a trip to Chungcheongbuk-do to take on a Chungbuk Cheongju side that's seeking a first win in four. The Lions are one of just two teams Luis Mina is yet to score against.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 6 Fixtures
Wednesday 10th April
#ANYvBUC: FC Anyang (1st) vs Bucheon FC 1995 (6th) - 14:00
#SFCvSEFC: Seongnam FC (10th) vs Seoul E-Land (5th) - 14:00
#SSBvJDFC: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (3rd) vs Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - 14:00
#CHFCvGFC: Chungbuk Cheongju (7th) vs Gimpo FC (12th) - 14:00
#CCFCvBUS: Cheonan City (9th) vs Busan IPark (8th) - 16:30
#ANSvCAFC: Ansan Greeners (13th) vs Chungnam Asan (4th) - 16:30
