The 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season reaches Round 25 this weekend, and with Friday being a national holiday in South Korea, matches are spread across three days.
Match of the Round
Jeonnam Dragons (4th) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd)
Jeonnam Dragons' promotion push is at risk of losing momentum, with Kim Hyun-seok's team now on a run of four without a win. The Dragons suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Cheonan City last time out and now sit 11 points behind second. Getting the Dragons breathing fire again will be the utmost priority to ensure that place in the playoffs is secured come season's end. Jeonnam face another promotion-chasing side this weekend in Bucheon FC 1995. Bucheon had suffered back-to-back losses heading into last weekend's action, but returned to winning ways by seeing off the challenge of Chungbuk Cheongju by a goal to nil. Bucheon sit third and just two points ahead of Jeonnam, meaning that a win could further tighten their grip, while a loss could open the playoff race even further.
There's not much between the two teams; both are among the top scorers in K League 2, and both are among the top three teams for passes made in the final third -- offering some insight as to where this contest will be played. The first meeting between the two teams this season also showed that there isn't much between them, with the match ending 2-2. On that occasion, Bucheon held a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jefferson Galego and Rodrigo Bassano, only for Ronan and Jeong Ji-yong to score late on to see the spoils shared.
Team of the Round
Gyeongnam FC (vs. Seoul E-Land)
Gyeongnam FC earned a late, late draw last time out away to Chungnam Asan, thanks to a 98th-minute equaliser from Kim Hyeong-jin. The Reds had gone ahead early on, only for the Owls to flip the game on its head in the 85th minute. But, looking to build on their Nakdong River Derby win the week before, Lee Eul-yong's men kept going and were able to lay the foundations of what could be the start of a mini unbeaten run. A positive result this weekend would be the first unbeaten run of three matches or more since March. Gyeongnam face Seoul E-Land at home this Saturday, knowing that a win could move them as high as 10th.
Player of the Round
Lee Sang-joon, Cheonan City (vs. Busan IPark)
Two wins in their last four have given Cheonan City a fighting chance of moving off the foot of the table. The team's top scorer, Lee Sang-joon, has played a huge part with three goals in his last three games. After firing in two against Gyeongnam in a 4-0 win two matches prior, Lee then brought the game level at 2-2 in the 85th minute away to Jeonnam Dragons in an eventual 4-3 win last time out. All five of Lee's goals have come in Cheonan wins, and this weekend, Lee will take on his former team and hometown club Busan IPark. The 25-year-old turned out 63 times for the south coast side, scoring four and assisting four, and will be determined to show them what they're missing.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 25
Ansan Greeners take on Chungnam Asan looking for a first win in 10, while the Owls are seeking to end a run of three straight draws and pick up a first victory in nine.
Gimpo FC, unbeaten in 10 and quietly mounting a late playoff push, host a Suwon Samsung Bluewings side that's still trying to keep pace with league leaders Incheon, and aiming for a sixth win in seven.
Chungbuk Cheongju host Hwaseong FC knowing that a win would see them leapfrog their Gyeonggi counterparts, but to do so will have to put last weekend's loss to Bucheon behind them. Hwaseong, too, need a return to form, having not won in their last three.
League leaders Incheon United face Seongnam FC this Sunday to close out the Round 25 action. The Durumi may have had their lead cut to five points by then, so they will need a good result to fend off a late Bluewings push. Seongnam, meanwhile, have put together an impressive run of six unbeaten to propel them into the playoff picture.
K League 2 Round 25 Fixtures
Friday 15th August
Jeonnam Dragons (4th) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd) - 19:00
Ansan Greeners (13th) vs. Chungnam Asan (9th) - 19:00
Saturday 16th August
Gimpo FC (7th) vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd) - 19:00
Chungbuk Cheongju (11th) vs. Hwaseong FC (10th) - 19:00
Gyeongnam FC (12th) vs. Seoul E-Land (5th) - 19:30
Incheon United (1st) vs. Seongnam FC (8th) - 20:00
Sunday 17th August
Cheonan City (14th) vs. Busan IPark (6th) - 19:00
