Jeonnam celebrates Liberation Day and the ‘Anjunsu Derby’. Will they succeed in the hunt for three points?
Jeonnam held on to a goal 안전놀이터 by Go Tae-won in the ninth minute of their home match against Bucheon FC in the K League 2 R25 on May 5 to earn a valuable three points.
Go scored the game-winning goal in just the ninth minute with a diagonal cross from teammate Lee Seok-hyun that he headed into the corner of the net with only a slight change of direction.
In the match that followed, Jeonnam overcame their weaknesses in the first half by pushing up the line and attacking, and in the second half by steady last-ditch buildup, to finish with 34 points (10 wins, 4 draws, and 9 losses), giving them a foothold in the top half of the table in terms of not only points but also performance. An unbeaten record in nine consecutive home matches was a bonus.
In the post-match press conference, he said, “Bringing Jeonnam back to the K League 1 is my goal in soccer. I will do my best to play any role to achieve this goal,” he said after the victory.
“I think the goal was made by Seokhyun,” he said, attributing the joy of scoring to his teammate.
Jeonnam will next play against Busan I-Park 2023 R26 on Tuesday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Busan Gudeok Stadium.
Busan, led by Park Jin-seop, is in third place in the K League 2 with 41 points (11 wins, 8 draws, and 4 losses). The team has been boosted by a flurry of signings this summer, including Park Dong-jin, Min Sung-ki, Summer, Kim Jeong-hwan, and Kang Sung-yoon, and is one of the favorites to win the K League 2 title in the 23rd season.
However, there is no reason to back down for Jeonnam, who are also on the rise.
In particular, goalkeeper Ahn Jun-soo had to leave Busan after competing for a starting role. He will be eager to take center stage in the aptly named Ahn Jun-soo Derby. Can Jeonnam’s determined ‘mobile shield’ make Busan cower once more?
Preparing for the match against Busan, Lee said, “August will be the most important time for us in the 23rd season, as we play against the top teams. We will do our best to get the three points against Busan,” he said.
The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting in Round 11. The last five head-to-head matches between the two teams are one win, three draws and one loss, with Jeonnam having a slight advantage in the head-to-head record with 36 wins to Busan’s 28 wins and 21 draws.
Having gained a foothold in the top tier, it will be interesting to see how Jeonnam will fare against Busan. The K League 2 2023 R26 match between Jeonnam and Busan will be broadcast live on Coupang Play and IB Sports.
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