The final match day of the second round robin in 2024 K League 2 season sees the campaign's second installment of the new Jijidae Derby, a playoff-chasing Chungbuk Cheongju take on a struggling Seongnam side, and Jeonnam Dragons, with their new Brazilian ace Bruno Oliveira, take on Cheonan City. With the race for promotion very right, a lot is at stake in Round 26.
Match of the Round
Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. FC Anyang, Mon. 12th August - 19:30
The Jijidae Derby, the original 'Super Match,' and a rivalry that was rekindled in 2022 when Suwon Bluewings overcame FC Anyang in the promotion-relegation playoff. An Oh Hyeon-gyu goal in the last minute of extra time broke Anyang hearts but neatly two years on, it's the Violets who're closer to K League 1 football next season. Anyang sit top of K League 2, 12 clear of the Bluewings who are clinging to the last playoff spot heading into Round 26. But the first meeting between the two sides this season, and first since the playoffs in 2022, ended as a 3-1 win for the Bluewings. Back in late April, goals from Kim Ju-chan, Kim Hyun, and Fejsal Mulic sent the Bluewings top of the league.
Anyang sit four points clear at the top so regardless of what happens in Cheonan City versus Jeonnam Dragons, Ryu Byeong-hun's men will still be sat at the K League 2 summit. But anything less than a win could mean that lead is reduced significantly. For the Bluewings, should Busan beat Seoul E-Land on Saturday, it would mean dropping out of the playoff spots.
There should be plenty of shots on goal in Monday's game. FC Anyang's at least should hit the target more often than not, sitting third in the league for shooting accuracy at 41.6% while Suwon sit top for total shots with 329. No team has had more touches in the opposition box than Suwon either at 425 but the two teams both rank highly for shots from outside the area, sitting second and third.
Monday's game is the first at the Yongin Mireu Stadium for Suwon who've moved out of Big Bird temporarily.
Team of the Round
Chungbuk Cheongju (vs. Seongnam FC, Mon. 12th August - 19:30)
Sitting just two points behind the playoff spots, Chungbuk Cheongju are very much in the race for promotion this season. Before the break, the Lions beat K League giants Busan IPark away from home, a side that had won three on the spin before that. Cheongju opened the scoring in the 53rd minute through veteran winger Kim Byung-oh, who was on hand to score his second of the season. His first of the campaign was his first K League goal in four years after dropping down to and returning to K3 via the Thai second division before joining Cheongju. Kim Myung-sun made it 2-0 five minutes from time to earn a first win in three and second in five.
Chungbuk Cheongju have one of the more modest goal tallies in K League 2 this season having found the back of the et 23 times, the third-fewest. What's intriguing about the Chungcheong province side's fortunes in front of goal is that they rank 12th for total shots (213) but fourth for accuracy (41.3%). They also have one of the best passing rates in the division, having made 14.5 passes per minute of possession to rank third in that regard. Having the third-most possession in the division at 53.1% just shows how effective they are with the ball. On Monday, Choi Yun-kyum's men take on a Seongnam FC side that has lost its last four on the bounce. The first meeting of 2024 ended in a 2-1 win for the Lions.
Player of the Round
Bruno Oliveira, Jeonnam Dragons (vs. Cheonan City, Sat. 11th August - 19:00)
Bruno Oliveira wasted no time at all in making an impression in front of the Jeonam Dragons fans. The 26-year-old, who joined the club towards the end of the summer transfer window, netted two minutes from time in the Dragons' 2-2 draw at home to his former employers Seoul E-Land, turning home a cutback on the edge of the six-yard box. The point earned means Jeonnam sit second, five points clear of Chungnam Asan in third. The task at hand for Bruno will be to earn a starting berth, having come off the bench on his debut, and fire the Jeolla side back to K League 1. Bruno's record in K League 2 makes for good reading having bagged six goals and assisted one in 24 starts during the 2023 season. He also boasted of the fourth-best shooting accuracy at 47.37%.
K League 2 Table
K League 2 Round 26 Fixtures
Saturday 10th August
#ANSvBUC: Ansan Greeners (13th) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (7th) - 19:00
#SEFCvBUS: Seoul E-Land (4th) vs. Busan IPark (6th) - 19:30
Sunday 11th August
#CCFCvJDFC: Cheonan City (10th) vs. Jeonnam Dragons (2nd) - 19:00
#GFCvGYE: Gimpo FC (9th) vs. Gyeongnam FC (11th) - 19:00
Monday 12th August
#SSBvANY: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (5th) vs. FC Anyang (1st) - 19:30
#CHFCvSFC: Chungbuk Cheongju (8th) vs. Seongnam FC (12th) - 19:30
