🔥 Match of the Weekend
Suwon FC vs. Gyeongnam FC
📍 Stadium: Castle Park.
🕒 Kick-off: Saturday, November 7. 14:00.
Across town on Sunday, Suwon Samsung know just one point from their remaining three fixtures will guarantee promotion. Their sights, however, are on the league title. Realistically, only Suwon FC can prevent their neighbors being crowned champions. With three matches remaining, and six points adrift, that looks highly unlikely.
For Suwon FC, then, staying inside the top two spots is imperative. Finishing second means an instant return to top flight football – a serious achievement given the quality in K League 2. Dropping to third will send them to the playoffs. Suwon are in pole position, holding a three point lead over Seoul E-Land. Gyeongnam will provide a stern test this Saturday.
🕵️ Hidden Story
📖 Hwaseong in Free-fall
June 6th, the final round before the World Cup break, was Hwaseong’s sliding doors moment. They led Suwon Samsung (then in 3rd) 1-0 until very late on when Suwon snatched all three points. Ironically, the winning goal was scored by Stanislav Iljutcenko, who joined Hwaseong soon after.
Hwaseong returned from the break to a loss before going on a winning streak, including a stunning 5-1 victory over Daegu. That was the high point. Two wins in 11 followed, and none in their previous five. Hwaseong haven’t played a home match since August.
Now sixth – the final playoff spot. After looking assured of the playoffs one month ago, Hwaseong are just three points clear of Chungnam Asan, and they’ve played a game more. They’re in free-fall as they make the long journey to Gimhae this weekend. No team needs a win more badly.
👀 Player to Watch
Kim Ju-chan [Suwon Samsung]
⭐ Position: Winger
📊 Recent Form: 4 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists
The local boy turned Bluewings star Kim Ju-chan has just returned from a successful spell with Gimcheon Sangmu. The winger featured 18 times in K League 1 his season, and his form was rewarded with an appearance for Team K League during the glamour friendly against Manchester City.
Since returning to Big Bird, Kim has made four appearances, all from the bench. He made his biggest impact last Saturday, cutting in from his left flank to curl a beautiful shot from distance into the bottom corner. Suwon would blow the 2-0 lead Kim’s goal gave them. Nonetheless, the 22-year-old has surely done enough to warrant a long overdue start this weekend.
📈 Current Standings
📅 Fixtures in Full
Saturday
🏟️ Suwon FC vs. Gyeongnam FC
🕒 14:00
🎯 Suwon FC 2-1 Gyeongnam
🏟️ Seongnam FC vs. Daegu FC
🕒 14:00
🎯 Seongnam 0-2 Daegu
🏟️ Gimpo FC vs. Ansan Greeners
🕒 16:30
🎯Gimpo 1-1 Ansan
🏟️Gimhae FC vs. Hwaseong FC
🕒 16:30
🎯 Gimhae 2-1 Hwaseong
🏟️ Seoul E-Land vs. Jeonnam Dragons
🕒 16:30
🎯 Seoul 4-1 Jeonnam
Sunday
🏟️ Cheonan FC vs. Busan IPark
🕒 14:00
🎯 Cheonan 1-2 Busan
🏟️ Suwon Samsung vs. Yongin FC
🕒 14:00
🎯 Suwon Samsung 3-0 Yongin
🏟️ Paju Frontier vs. Chungnam Asan
🕒 16:30
🎯 Paju 0-2 Asan
Week off: Chungbuk Cheongju
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