The K League Challenge returns this weekend for it’s 3rd season. The 2nd tier of professional football in South Korea features 11 sides this season; with Gyeongnam and Sangju Sangmu (Korean Army) joining from the K League Classic as well as newly formed side Seoul E-Land FC (who start their season next weekend). For our complete preview and prediction for the 2015 K League Challenge season as well as this weekends K League Classic action, check out these links;
K League Challenge 2015 Season – Prediction, Preview and More
K League Classic Round 3 (March 21st-22nd) Previews, Predictions and Results
K League Challenge 2015 Round 1 Previews & Predictions
This round of games are split between Saturday (3 games) and Sunday (2 games). Games take place in the early to mid afternoons from now until the summer. Here are brief previews of this weekends K League Challenge Round 1 Games, also please note that as this is the opening weekend predictions are based on squads and last season;
Saturday March 21st 2015:
FC Anyang vs. Suwon City FC (2pm)
Saturdays first game features 2 sides who’ll be looking to make the playoffs this season, with FC Anyang hosting Suwon City FC.
FC Anyang had an awful end of 2014 and finished in 5th just outside of the playoff places.
Suwon City FC finsihed just behind them in 6th and seem to be improving slowly year by year.
This is a hard one to call as these sides look even on paper, and therefore we’re siding with a draw.
Prediction: 1 – 1
Bucheon 1995 vs. Daegu (2pm)
Saturdays 2nd game is between Bucheon 1995 and Daegu.
Bucheon 1995 finished bottom last season (the second season straight) and will look for any improvement this season.
Daegu finished a disappointing 7th last year and are certainly a side suffering from relegation from the K League Classic.
On paper Daegu look to have the stronger squad, however Bucheon are often surprising at home and we’re giving them the edge.
Prediction: 2 – 1
Sangju Sangmu vs. Gangwon (4pm)
Saturdays late game sees Sangju Sangmu host Gangwon.
Sangju Sangmu the 2013 K League Challenge champions are back after struggling in the Classic last season.
Gangwon finished 3rd last season and lost in the playoffs vs. Gwangju.
Sangju Sangmu will be a force in the league this season and should be their first 3 points.
Prediction: 2 – 0
Sunday March 22nd 2015:
Chungju Hummel vs. Goyang Hi (2pm)
Sundays early game features the two sides who might struggle this season with Chungju Hummel hosting Goyang Hi.
Chungju Hummel finished 9th last season and had the worst defensive record in the league.
Goyang Hi were just 1 place higher in 8th, and had the lowest average attendance for the 2nd season straight.
These sides might not be in the promotion picture, but they are often involved in entertaining games. We see this being an entertaining victory for Chungju.
Prediction: 3 – 1
Gyeongnam vs. Ansan Police (4pm)
Sundays late game features two sides who will be in the promotion picture this season, as Gyeongnam host Ansan Police
Gyeongnam finished 11th in the K League Classic last season, and were relegated via the playoffs.
Ansan Police finished runners-up last season and will be looking to go one better this year.
Both sides will be similar in strength and therefore a draw seems a likely outcome.
Prediction: 2 – 2
K League Challenge 2015 Round 1 Results
Saturday March 21st 2015:
FC Anyang 3 – 0 Suwon City FC
Bucheon 1995 2 – 1 Daegu
Sangju Sangmu 3 – 1 Gangwon
Sunday March 22nd 2015:
Chungju Hummel 0 – 1 Goyang Hi
Gyeongnam 0 – 0 Ansan Police
Seoul E-Land FC are set join the action next weekend.
Pictures and Instagram Posts from K League Challenge 2015 Round 1
Anyang scoring in the bottom right.
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K League Challenge 2015 Round 1 Predictions Round Up
Three correct results with one perfect score from this weekends 5 games.
Finally
For information on the all of our previous K League Related Posts: CLICK HERE
As always if you have anything you’d like to add please let us know.
We will try and keep things updated as best as possible via Twitter (and little via Facebook).
Tim
Modern Seoul
tim@modernseoul.org
Modern Seoul 