A promotion candidate at 14th place... With nowhere left to retreat, can Jeonnam's match against Ansan be the remedy?

*This content was translated by AI.

It is the worst start possible. Can the K League 2 club Jeonnam Dragons turn the tide?

Jeonnam's standing this year is 14th out of 17 clubs in K League 2, with only 1 win, 2 draws, and 5 losses (5 points). They announced a fresh start with a decisive 4-1 victory over Gyeongnam FC in the season opener. However, there have been no victories since. They suffered consecutive away defeats against Daegu FC and Suwon Samsung, and also lost to the "new team" Paju Frontier, falling into a three-game losing streak. In the match against Yongin FC, they were leading 2-1 but conceded a heartbreaking equalizer in the 6th minute of stoppage time in the second half.

Following that, Jeonnam lost 0-1 to Hwaseong FC and drew 2-2 against the previous opponent, Chungnam Asan, failing to hold their lead. Ultimately, they faced a crisis of seven consecutive matches without a win.

Until before the season began, Jeonnam was considered one of the promotion candidates. When newly appointed Jeonnam coach Park Dong-hyuk took charge, he expressed strong determination: "We will strengthen the areas that were lacking last season, unite as one team, and achieve the goal of promotion to K League 1."

However, the start is serious. A turning point is needed at all costs. Jeonnam will face Ansan Greeners in the 9th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 at Ansan Wa~ Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on the 25th. Ansan sits 12th in the league with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses (8 points). Last year, Ansan remained in last place (14th), but they are showing a different appearance this season.

In head-to-head history, Jeonnam holds a slight edge with 10 wins, 6 draws, and 8 losses. However, in the last 10 matches, Jeonnam dominates with 6 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses. Jeonnam aims to catch two birds with one stone in this match. If they can defeat Ansan, they can not only break the seven-match winless streak but also turn the tide.

Nevertheless, there is a positive signal. "Jeonnam's unchanging ace" Valdivia broke out of a mini slump by scoring a goal in the previous match against Chungnam Asan. Ho-nan and Lebon have also activated their scoring machines in April, boosting their confidence. The offense is coming back to life. However, the defense, which has conceded a goal in every match this year, needs to regain its focus.

Veterans like goalkeeper Choi Bong-jin must lead the team skillfully with their experience, and the young players must show fighting spirit. If Jeonnam cannot overcome the Ansan match, escaping the lower tier and entering the mid-table will become even more difficult. There is nowhere left to retreat.

It is still early in the season. The gap with other teams is not significant. If they can establish an upward trend, they can surge forward at any time. Attention is focused on whether the Ansan match can serve as a remedy for Jeonnam.

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*This content was translated by AI.