The 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season reaches Round 23 this weekend, with all seven games slated to kick off at the same time on the same day. With the third and final round robin looming large, it's getting closer to the business end of the season.
Match of the Round
Seoul E-Land (6th) vs. Incheon United (1st)
Seoul E-Land ended a run of eight matches without a win last weekend, thanks to a 2-0 away triumph over automatic promotion-chasing Suwon Samsung Bluewings. It also marked the Leopards' first clean sheet in nine and moved last year's playoff finalists to within a point of the playoffs. The return to winning ways comes at an ideal time, with Seoul E-Land set to face the league leaders, Incheon United. Incheon sit nine points clear following three straight wins and just one loss in 11. Last time out, the Durumi overcame the Green Wolves of Ansan, 4-2, thanks to a brace from Gerso Fernandes and single strikes from Shin Jin-ho and Stefan Mugoša.
The two teams are among the top scorers in K League 2, with Incheon second in that regard, having found the back of the net 44 times, and Seoul E-Land having done so on 34 occasions. They've racked up a similar number of shots on target, too, with Incheon landing 101 and Seoul E-Land 92. A win for Incheon will be required if they want to preserve the nine-point cushion over second, while Seoul E-Land know that a victory could see them move back into the playoff positions. The first meeting of 2025, which was the first-ever between the two teams, ended in a 1-0 win for Incheon.
Team of the Round
Cheonan City (vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
Cheonan City's resounding 4-0 win over Gyeongnam FC has given them a fighting chance of moving off the foot of the table. Goals from Choi Jin-woong, Lee Ji-hoon, and a brace from Lee Sang-jun gave the sky blues their first win in five and ended a run of back-to-back losses. With Gyeongnam sitting one place above them in the table, the victory moves Kim Tae-wan's men within just two points of the Roses in 13th. All but one of Cheonan's four wins this season have come at home, which bodes well as up next is the visit of Suwon Bluewings. Although the Bluewings are chasing automatic promotion and will want to put the defeat to Seoul E-Land behind them, their record against Cheonan favours the relative minnows. Cheonan picked up two wins over the Bluewings last season.
Player of the Round
Kim Min-woo, Gimpo FC (vs. Hwaseong FC)
With an outside chance of making the playoffs, Gimpo FC have begun to put together a good run of form, having suffered defeat just once in their last nine, with four wins. Last time out, Gimpo picked up a comprehensive 3-0 away win over Chungbuk Cheongju and, announcing his arrival on loan from K League 1 side Daejeon Hana Citizen, midfielder Kim Min-woo fired in a contender for goal of the season to make it 2-0 on 73 minutes. Kim Min-woo has now played three times for Gimpo, but the goal was his first-ever at K League level. Being something of a utility player, Kim Min-woo is able to play at left back or as a central midfielder, giving manager Ko Jeong-woon plenty of options. Up next for Kim and Gimpo is the trip to Hwaseong.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 23
Two matches without a win have seen Jeonnam Dragons slip to fourth in the table. The task this Saturday is to ensure a return to winning ways at home to Chungnam Asan. The Owls have lost three out of their last five and are seeking a first win in six.
Ansan Greeners' place well away from the foot of the table race is under threat, needing the Green Wolves to rediscover their bite when taking on the Lions of Chungbuk Cheongju. Ansan are without a win in seven, but five of those matches have ended in draws, while Chungbuk Cheongju have begun to pick up results here and there, with two wins and two draws from their last six, but lost last time out.
The second Nakdong River Derby of the season sees Gyeongnam FC taking on Busan IPark, knowing that anything less than a win could see them slip to last place. Busan, meanwhile, remain hanging on to the last playoff spot but, likewise, know that anything less than all three points could see them being leapfrogged.
High-flying Bucheon FC 1995 had been on a run of seven unbeaten with six wins before the loss to Busan last time out. They take on Seongnam, who have become much more resilient of late, unbeaten in four, but will need to start turning draws into wins.
K League 2 Round 23 Fixtures
Saturday 2nd August
Jeonnam Dragons (4th) vs. Chungnam Asan (9th) - 19:00
Seoul E-Land (6th) vs. Incheon United (1st) - 19:00
Cheonan City (14th) vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd) - 19:00
Ansan Greeners (12th) vs. Chungbuk Cheongju (11th) - 19:00
Gyeongnam FC (13th) vs. Busan IPark (5th) - 19:00
Hwaseong FC (10th) vs. Gimpo FC (7th) - 19:00
Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd) vs. Seongnam FC (8th) - 19:00
