FC Anyang need a point from their final two games to guarantee the K League 2 trophy and a first-ever promotion to the top tier. The chance of a life-time begins at Bucheon FC 1995 this Saturday. But as we saw last season, nothing can be taken for granted in this division.
There were groans and moans when the fourth official held up his board on Tuesday night at Anyang Stadium. FC Anyang were leading Jeonnam Dragons by a single goal. They had been the better team throughout this niggly, scrappy affair but wasted several good chances to make it safe. To this point, Jeonnam had offered next to nothing, other than their hefty contribution to the foul statistics.
Eight additional minutes. Anyang have been here before. It felt inevitable. With just their second effort on target in 94 minutes, Yoon Jae-seok capitalized on a rare goalkeeping error from Kim Da-sol to stab home a thoroughly undeserved equalizer. In the final minute, Nicholas, a poor mid-season replacement for Danrlei, missed a sitter to claim all three points. The big Brazilian has no goals and no assists from eight matches with his new club, but five yellow cards.
Frustration all around.
“I’m very sad,” man-of-the-match Yago bluntly put it afterwards, “because we were very close to the victory. We lost a goal right at the end but we have two more games. So we have two more chances. We will try to play at 100% in our next match like we did today.”
Victory on Tuesday wouldn’t have seen Anyang promoted, just yet, but it was basically a done deal. Seoul E-Land would have been officially out of the running and Chungnam Asan, in second, would have needed all three points in Yongin to keep the season alive. As it transpired, Anyang drew, Seoul E-Land won, and Asan were beaten in injury time.
It means Seoul are the only team that can catch Anyang but to do so, they need to win their remaining two matches (Gyeongnam away, Jeonnam home) and hope Anyang don’t pick up a single point against Bucheon or Gyeongnam. Asan’s fairy tale season will have to continue in the play-offs. In reality, the champagne is on ice.
Yago admitted Anyang “don’t focus on other team or other matches. We only look at our games and how well we can play.” And this weekend, he and his teammates need not worry about Seoul. Anyang are in action on Saturday against Gyeonggi-rivals Bucheon in the Nilson Junior Derby. Seoul play 24 hours later in Gwangyang. It should be all over before the E-Land players board their bus.
This season, Yago has been part of a major transformation in Anyang’s fortunes. In 2023, after a stunning start that saw the Violets climb to first, the team collapsed over the summer to finish in a disappointing 6th spot, three points outside the playoffs. They were expected to challenge this year, but as champions? Few people, if any, saw that coming. What has been the difference?
“This year many things changed,” Yago continues. “From our head coach (Yoo Byeong-hoon arrived in the winter) to many players (notably Brazilian sensation Matheus). Because the head coach changed, we adopted a new way of playing. New tactics.”
And this has has an impact at both ends of the field. “This year, our players better understand what they’re being asked to to do, not just with offensive, but also in defense. Also, our players are always thinking about going to K League 1. We are trying to win every game, so that’s why we are top this year,”
Despite the dropped points on Tuesday, confidence is still really high in the Anyang squad. Their recent means they can approach the next two games assured they have the quality to get the job done. “We really showed our quality in the last matches against Cheongju and Busan, and that has put us in a good position to move up to K League 1.”
Last season, Busan IPark needed three points from their final two games to get promoted. They were smashed in Jeonnam and then blew a 1-0 lead in the 95th minute against Cheongju, to finish second, behind Gimcheon Sangmu. Anyang don’t even need a win. Their path is easier but failure would be more embarrassing.
The journey to K League 1 begins this Saturday in Bucheon. A point will do. They should get it. Anyang are within touching distance of the Promised Land at long last.
