PHG vs BSN
Despite clinching a crushing 4-1 win over Ulsan, Pohang (PHG) missed out on an AFC League spot. Seoul, who finished level on points with PHG, sealed the final AFC League spot thanks to more goals scored.
Busan (BSN) returns to Korea’s top division after a gap of five years. They scored the most goals in the 2nd Division last season, and had to overcome Anyang and Gyeongnam in the play-offs to seal their top-flight return.
Head-to-Head
The last time both teams met, BSN pipped PHG 1-0 in extra time in the 2017 Korean Cup.
Key Players
PHG
Jeon Min-Kwang (DEF): The centre-back, who made 31 appearances in the Korean 2nd Division, scored one goal and clinched two assists.
Kim Sang-Won (DEF): Kim, another new signing, had a remarkable campaign in the 2nd Division last season. He topped Anyang’s assists chart with eight assists and netted six goals.
Aleksandar Palocevic (MID): Palocevic, who joined during mid-season, made an immediate impact. He scored a goal and set up another in the 4-1 win over Ulsan last season.
Brandon O’Neill (MID): The Aussie, who plays in central midfield, made an impressive start – a goal and four assists, in the Australian League 2019-20 season before signing for PHG.
Manuel Palacios (FWD): Palacios scored ten goals, including three against Busan, in the 2nd Division last season. The winger has also notched up seven assists in the 2019 season.
Stanislav Iljutcenko (FWD): The Russian, who signed in June 2019, has scored seven goals & made three assists in three appearances for PHG.
BSN
Kim Moon-hwan (DEF): Kim was named in the Korean 2nd Division ‘Best XI’ for the second consecutive season. The right-back has also cemented his place in the South Korean team since his debut in 2018.
Kim Jin-gyu (MID): The central midfielder, who scored the opening goal for BSN last season, has had an outstanding 2019 campaign. He has netted four goals and three assists.
Rômulo (MID): The Brazilian scored the winner in Korean League play-off second round match and drew the first blood in the second leg of the final round. Rômulo also scored 13 goals in the campaign.
Lee Dong-jun (FWD): The 23-year-old won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the Korean 2nd Division League last season. He scored 13 goals and assisted seven goals.
GNGW vs SEO
Gangwon (GNGW), who scored the third-highest number of goals in the 2019 Korean League, finished sixth on the table with 50 points. Seoul (SEO), meanwhile, finished third and sealed a spot in the 2020 ACL League.
Head-to-Head (2019 Korean League)
14.04.2019 – GNGW 1-2 SEO
06.07.2019 – SEO 2-2 GNGW
11.08.2019 – SEO 0-0 GNGW
20.10.2019 – GNGW 3-2 SEO
Key Players
GNGW
Shine Se-Kye (DEF): The right-back was part of Korean Cup winners Suwon’s squad last season. He made 23 appearances in the league.
Song Seung-Jun (DEF): Song had a memorable outing in the 2019 season. The wing-back added five assists to his name in the league.
Han Kook-Young (MID): Han completed the most passes, 2703, in Korean League last season.
Kim Seung-Dae (FWD): Kim has netted against SEO last season as he scored the crucial third goal in Jeonbuk’s 4-2 win. He was ranked fifth in the league for making key passes.
SEO
Osmar (MID): The Spaniard had an excellent 2019 season as he found the net four times and set up three goals. He also scored in the 2020 ACL League qualification round match.
Han Seung-Gyu (MID): Han, who won the Korean League Young Player of the Year award in 2018, made 18 appearances for JEO last season.
Yoon Jong-gyu (MID): The 22-year-old, who also plays for South Korea U23 team, featured in most of the SEO’s matches in the last season.
Ko Yo-Han (MID): The SEO skipper had an excellent 2019 season as he registered eight assists and three goals.
Aleksandar Pesic (FWD): Pesic scored ten goals in 23 appearances for SEO in the 2019 Korean League.