Weekend picks

FOOTBALL

K-League playoff for promotion-relegation

Suwon FC (1-0) at Busan I’Park FC (0-1)

4 p.m., Saturday, Gudeok Stadium, Busan

The K-League season is over for both first-tier Classic and second division Challenge, but there is one thing that still has not been determined, the last team to play in the K-League Classic next season.

While Daejeon Citizen, which finished last in the Classic, and Sangju Sangmu FC, the winner of the Challenge, are switching their leagues next season, Suwon FC and Busan I’Park still don’t know their fate.

Suwon finished third in the second division, but reached this promotion-relegation playoff with Busan, which finished 11th in the Classic, by edging Seoul E-Land and Daegu FC in the Challenge playoffs.

Suwon has the advantage by beating Busan 1-0 in a 10-man game played on Wednesday at home, thanks to a goal scored in the 85 minute. For the second match away, Suwon can confirm their spot in the Classic next season with a win or draw or even with a loss.

Under the away goal rule, the team that has scored more goals in away matches will win if their aggregate scores are equal. This mean’s that even if Suwon is defeated by Busan in one-goal difference on Saturday, the team is still through. However, finishing the match with 1-0 loss will result in overtime.

Suwon could be the first original Challenge club to play in the first division. The team turned professional in 2013 and played in the second division.

Busan is in danger of becoming the first corporate-owned team to play in the second division. The team is run by Hyundai Development Company. Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu, who is also a former K-League commissioner, is the chairman of the conglomerate.

In this desperate situation, Busan is considering to play Korean national team forward Lee Jeong-hyeop although he is recovering from an ankle injury. The team’s other striker, Hong Jong-hyun, can’t play since he received a red card in the first playoff game on Wednesday.

VOLLEYBALL

V-League men’s division

Hyundai Capital Skywalkers (8-5) at Kepco Vixtorm (7-6)

2 p.m., Saturday, Suwon Indoor Arena, Suwon, Gyeonggi

The Skywalkers suffered a 3-0 defeat against Vixtorm at home last Wednesday and now have their chance for revenge.

The Skywalkers have been running the offense around Cuban attacker Oreol Camejo on the left, while Moon Sung-min is taking charge of the opposite (right side hitter). Camejo has the league-top attacking success rate at 58.97 percent.

Vixtorm is coming off a disappointing 3-1 defeat against league worst KB Insurance Stars at home on Tuesday.

The team is powered by Jan Stokr who has scored 321 points in 45 sets, which is 31 points more than Camejo. The Czech spiker is joined by Jeon Kwang-in who is recovering from an injury.