For Daejeon, following on from last weekend's defeat to Seoul E-Land, the Purples still have a three-point gap to make up if they are to sneak into second place. While manager Lee Min-sung remains adamant that his team want to finish in second place at the very least, it may be about preserving third heading into the playoffs. Two of the three previous encounters between Gimcheon and Daejeon from this term have ended in Gimcheon wins, the most recent coming in July when Daejeon fell to a 4-1 home loss despite taking the lead. Gimcheon ran out 2-1 winners at Purple Arena in March, prior to a 1-1 draw in Gimcheon back in May.
Team of the Round
FC Anyang (vs. Ansan Greeners, Sat. 25th Sept. 16:00)
FC Anyang have mathematically secured a place in the playoffs, sitting in second place and with a 19-point gap above Busan IPark in fifth. However, the Violets are also just three points off league leaders Gimcheon Sangmu and are remain determined to displace Kim Tae-wan's army side. Anyang have three wins from their last five and are unbeaten in eight matches. This weekend, Anyang take on Ansan Greeners for what will be the final Line 4 Derby of 2021. Lee Woo-hyung's men may be enjoying the more successful season compared to their local rivals, but the Greeners have managed to pick up two wins and a draw from the previous three meetings this term.
Player of the Round
Kim In-sung (Seoul E-Land vs. Busan IPark, Mon. 27th Sept. 19:30)
Seoul E-Land winger is a man in form with three goals in his last four outings and four in five. After signing from Ulsan Hyundai, Kim In-sung has six goals to his name from nine appearances over all. Goals either in draws or wins have helped the Leopards pick up four points extra, the difference in being on the cusp of fifth or sitting bottom of the table. Kim scored his sixth of the season in the 1-1 draw with Busan IPark last time out, the rearranged Round 23 fixture, levelling in the 66th minute after his former Ulsan teammate Park Jeong-in made it 1-0 on 41. Kim bagged the game's opener in the 2-1 win over Daejeon in Round 30 and will be looking to add to his tally come Monday night. The Leopards, too, are on a good run with two wins and a draw heading into this Monday's clash with Busan IPark - the second between the two teams in the space of five days. Seoul E-Land have just one defeat in their last five whereas Busan haven't tasted victory in each of their last nine matches.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 31
Chungnam Asan take on Jeonnam Dragons this Sunday evening. The Owls sit seventh and nine points behind Jeonnam and the last playoff spot after three straight losses. The Dragons, meanwhile, have lost their last two matches. Looking to avoid the K League 2 wooden spoon, Bucheon FC 1995 host Gyeongnam FC on Saturday afternoon. Bucheon are one point behind Seoul E-Land in the table but have one three of their last five. Gyeongnam, meanwhile, still harbour hopes of a playoff berth despite being without a win in their last five. Seol Ki-hyeon's men have a nine-point gap to make up.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 31 Fixtures
Saturday 25th September 2021
#BUCvGYE: Bucheon FC 1995 (10th) vs Gyeongnam FC (6th) - 13:30
#Line4Derby: Ansan Greeners (8th) vs FC Anyang (2nd) - 16:00
Sunday 26th September 2021
#GIMvDHFC: Gimcheon Sangmu (1st) vs Daejeon Hana Citizen (3rd) - 16:00
#CAFCvJDFC: Chungnam Asan (7th) vs Jeonnam Dragons (4th) - 18:30
Monday 27th September 2021
#SEFCvBUS: Seoul E-Land (9th) vs Busan IPark (5th) - 19:30
Where to Watch
K League 2 Round 31 matches are available LIVE, for FREE and in HD on
tv.kleague.com