Match of the Round
Busan IPark vs. Gyeongnam FC - Tue. 23rd July, 19:30
The second Nakdong River Derby of the season comes at a time when both teams have begun to find a bit of form. Busan IPark are unbeaten in four and head into Tuesday's clash having won their last two, including a 3-2 victory over promotion contenders Jeonnam Dragons which was new manager Jo Sung-hwan's first match in charge. Gyeongnam, meanwhile, have picked up four points from six available in their last two outings. Park Dong-jin having scored two in his first two matches for Gyeongnam will be seen as a major plus point for a team that's looking to pull away from the bottom two.
Busan are now just a point being the playoff spots and know that a win could move them as high as fourth should results elsewhere go their way. Gyeongnam could move above Cheonan City and into 10th with Kim Tae-wan's side not in action in midweek. The first meeting of 2024 ended in a 4-1 Busan win back in March, it extended the team's unbeaten run over their south coast rivals to five. Gyeongnam's last win over Busan dates back to July 2022, a 1-0 win in Changwon. There's history between these two teams, with the Nakdong River all that's operating Busan from Changwon. Busan earned promotion via the playoffs in 2019, beating Gyeongnam over two legs. Both will be looking at Tuesday's fixture as one that needs to be won.
Team of the Round
FC Anyang (vs. Ansan Greeners, Wed. 25th July - 19:30)
FC Anyang successfully put the 2-0 loss to Busan behind them at the weekend with a 1-0 win over Gimpo FC. This, coupled with Jeonnam's defeat, means that the Violets can breathe easy again with their five-point cushion restored. Anyang have lost just four matches this season, and will be keen to avoid a fifth this Wednesday, especially as Ryu Byeong-hun's men take on their local rivals Ansan Greeners in the Line 4 Derby in a top versus bottom clash. Anyang won the first meeting this season ever-so-narrowly 1-0 courtesy of a Kim Un goal in the 90th. Kim scored the winner against Gimpo at the weekend so will be feeling confident. Anyang's last loss to Ansan dates back to September 2021.
Player of the Round
Juninho Rocha, Chungnam Asan (vs. Chungbuk Cheongju, Wed, 25th July - 19:30)
Another win for Chungnam Asan over the weekend, their ninth of the campaign, kept them in the playoff hunt. The victory ended a mini-run of two matches without one and was earned thanks to goals from Juninho Rocha and Denisson. For the former, it was his sixth of the campaign, drawing level with Kang Min-gu as the Owls' joint-top scorer. But with four assists too, 10 total goal contributions is the most among any Chungnam Asan player. His goals and assists have all come in draws or wins, including one goal and three assists in a 4-0 win over Seongnam back in June, and have helped earn his team four extra points. The Brazilian has already doubled his tally from last season while in the green of Gimpo FC and faces a Chungbuk Cheongju side who he helped defeat 4-1 earlier in the campaign, supplying an assist for Kang Min-gu to make it 3-1.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 24 Fixtures
Tuesday 24th July
#NakdongRiverDerby: Busan IPark (7th) vs. Gyeongnam FC (11th) - 19:30
#BUCvSSB: Bucheon FC 1995 (8th) vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (5th) - 19:30
#SFCvJDFC: Seongnam FC (12th) vs. Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - 19:30
#CHFCvCAFC: Chungbuk Cheongju (9th) vs. Chungnam Asan (3rd) - 19:30
#Line4Derby: Ansan Greeners (13th) vs. FC Anyang (1st) - 19:30
#GFCvSEFC: Gimpo FC (6th) vs. Seoul E-Land (4th) - 19:30
