After a tumultuous season that saw former coach Lim Jong-heon먹튀검증 (57) suspended and jailed for “player selection irregularities,” professional football’s K League 2 (second division) Ansan Greeners snapped a nine-game losing streak with an away victory over Gimpo FC.
Ansan held on to Kim Bum-soo’s 41st-minute goal to defeat Gimpo 1-0 in the 23rd round of the Hana OneQ K League 2 2023 at the Gimpo Solter Football Stadium on 24 May.
Ansan snapped a nine-match winless streak dating back to 14 May against Chungbuk Cheongju (0-3 loss).
It was also their first win in 13 matches since a 1-0 victory over Jeonnam Dragons on 23 April.
Ansan remained 12th out of 13 teams with 13 points.
Ansan acting coach Song Han-bok oversaw his first win in five matches since taking over on 27 April.
Gimpo saw their unbeaten streak snapped at two games.
Ansan took the lead in the 41st minute when Kim Bum-soo cut in from the right after a penetrating pass from Kim Kyung-jun and beat the keeper to an empty net.
Gimpo made a late push in stoppage time, but Lewis’ header was saved by Ansan goalkeeper Lee Seung-bin and Son Seok-yong’s subsequent header went just over the bar and hit the ground.
Busan jumped from sixth to third place after beating FC Anyang thanks to Pessin’s late stoppage-time penalty. [Courtesy of the Korea Football Association]
■ Busan ‘jumps’ from 6th to 3rd place with Pessin’s late penalty kick winner over Anyang
At the Busan Asiad Stadium, home team Busan IPark defeated FC Anyang 2-1 thanks to Pessin’s penalty in second-half stoppage time.
With the win, which snapped a two-game losing streak, Busan jumped from sixth to third place (37 points).
Anyang dropped one place to fourth (35 points).
Busan took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Ramas connected with a thunderous left-footed mid-range volley after the Anyang defence cleared the ball away with their heads.
Anyang looked to have a point in the bag in the 38th minute of the second half when Bruno’s penetrating pass allowed Yago to beat the goalkeeper to equalise.
However, Busan sneaked out the victory with a penalty kick goal from Pessin in stoppage time.
Earlier, Busan’s Choi Jun’s shot hit the foot of an Anyang player and then the arm of Anyang defender Baek Dong-gyu, prompting the referee to award a penalty kick.