K2 - Football - South Korea - K League 2

First round game of the 2021 season of K League 2 between Busan l'Park and Seoul E-Land at Busan Gudeok Stadium. The relegated Busan l'Park is looking to bounce back to the top tier at the first time of asking, meanwhile Seoul E-Land is looking to get into the promotion playoff, as last season they failed to qualify in the final round, despite arriving with advantage in the general standing.

Busan l'Park's last season collapsed in the second half of the season, with a run of poor results, few key injuries and bad defensive performances, conceding late goals to relegation rivals, did not help to stay in the top tier. Profound changes in the off season and now Busan l'Park looks set to enter a new era with a young squad, leaded by new Portuguese coach Ricardo Peres, the only overseas manager this season.

Looking to get the needed force in the front, Busan l'Park brought last season K League 2 top scorer to the team, as North Korean international Byong-jun An, 21 goals in 26 games last season, joined the team. To reinforce the back Cypriot international Valentino Selies is expected to partner with Kang Min-soo, with the addition of youngster Choi Jun, who made a good season with Gyeongnam FC in 2020, with the added benefit of being elegible for U22 rule.

Seoul E-Land keep their much improved formula from their eventful 2020 season, last season was expected to be a transition after the 2019 season, but the new arrivals worked, manager Chung Jung-young and young hungry players made things difficult for the rest of teams in K League 2 and missed to qualify for the promotion playoff in the line, something that no one expected at the start of the season.

The highlight of the off-season was to keep Leandro and Lee Sang-min, as well as Jang Yun-ho and Ko Jae-hyun for one more year. Key players for the Leopards last season. They were able to bring important reinforcements as William Barbio arrived from Bucheon FC 1995, which should increased pace in the attack. Together with Argentinian youngster Nicolas Benegas, to be an alternative in the attack. The most sensible departure was Keeper Kang Jeong-mook, the main alternative when Kim Hyun-geun was injured.

The last game between them was in 2019. In the previous five games between them at this venue, there has been five victories for Busan l'Park. In four of those games there has been goals from both teams, only in once Seoul E-Land was unable to score.

An interesting game for both to test their chemistry as both made many changes. Yet one thing is clear, there is scoring potential in both teams. Seoul E-Land showed last season they play with pace and will be looking to score goals, pushing every moment of the game, the key Leandro. For Busan l'Park, the experienced Byong-jun together with the speed and energy of the youngsters should provide them with important scoring chances in this return to K League 2.

28/02/2021 05:16, read 951 times