The 2025 Hana Bank K League 2 season reaches Round 35 this Sunday, meaning there are just five matches to go. With the promotion race extremely tightly contested, there could be further movement among the teams in the top eight.
Match of the Round
Seoul E-Land vs. Busan IPark
Another playoff race six-pointer sees Seoul E-Land welcome Busan IPark to Mokdong this weekend. Just a point and a place separate the two teams, but it's the Leopards who have their claws dug into fifth place. At the weekend, Byun Kyung-jun fired in a late, late winner away to Gimpo to see Seoul E-Land take home the lion's share of the points, and extend their unbeaten run to five. Busan, meanwhile, suffered defeat at the weekend, losing to playoff rivals Bucheon FC 1995 2-1. This meant five matches without a win. The Royals' dip in form comes at precisely the wrong time, with momentum needed heading into the playoffs. With fifth spot now in their hands, Seoul E-Land will be determined to keep hold of that last playoff spot. But Busan, having spent much of the season in fifth, will want to take back what they feel is theirs. The most recent meeting between the two teams ended in a 4-1 Busan IPark win in the capital, but the first of 2025 ended as a 2-2 draw on the south coast.
Team of the Round
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (vs. Hwaseong FC)
After back-to-back draws, Suwon Samsung Bluewings responded with a resounding 5-0 win over Cheonan City at the weekend. Goals came from five different scorers, too, showing the depth the Bluewings have in attack. Already the league's top scorers, Suwon further extended their lead in that regard with 67 goals, now six more than Incheon United. Against Cheonan, Suwon registered no fewer than 22 shots with 10 finding the target. The win kept the K League giants firmly in second place, eight points behind Incheon but seven points clear of Bucheon as they look to secure the runner-up spot and a direct playoff with 11th in K League 1. The Bluewings are back on the road again this weekend, though, making the short trip to Hwaseong to take on Cha Du-ri's Hwaseong FC. The first meeting of the season ended in a 3-1 Bluewings win, but the second in Hwaseong was a 1-1 draw.
Player of the Round
Kim Beom-su, Seongnam FC (vs. Gyeongnam FC)
After suffering defeat to 10-man Bucheon in the match before, it was important that Seongnam FC got a positive result against Incheon to get back on track. While a 2-2 draw may not seem like a hugely positive result, coming back from 2-0 down with 10 men, and scoring an equaliser in the dying embers, a 2-2 draw at home to the league leaders will feel a bit like a win. Kim Beom-su rifled in the point-securing equaliser, his third goal of the season and first since April. Kim came off the bench with around 30 minutes to go and registered three shots, two of which found the target. Two of his shots, including the goal, came from outside the box. With renewed confidence, Kim Beom-su and Seongnam can look ahead to the trip to Changwon to face Gyeongnam FC this weekend. The Magpies a perched at eighth in the table, but are only three points behind fifth with five games to go.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 35
Bottom hosts top when Ansan Greeners take on Incheon United. Ansan won last time out, beating Jeonnam for their first win in 20. Incheon drew with Seongnam to see their 10-point lead shrink slightly to eight, but need just three more wins to seal the title.
Gimpo FC travel to Chungnam Asan with the aim of putting the loss to Seoul E-Land behind them and keep their playoff push on track. The Owls, though, are unbeaten in three with back-to-back wins heading into Round 35.
Bucheon FC 1995 made it two wins in a week, but a statement win over Busan keeps them in the driver's seat for third place. They face a Cheonan City side that is without a win in three.
Jeonnam Dragons travel to Chungbuk Cheongju on the back of a shock defeat to Ansan Greeners, but remain four points clear of sixth. The Lions sit second-bottom following a run of 11 without a win.
K League 2 Round 35 Fixtures
Sunday 19th October
Ansan Greeners (14th) vs. Incheon United (1st) - 14:00
Gyeongnam FC (11th) vs. Seongnam FC (8th) - 14:00
Seoul E-Land (5th) vs. Busan IPark (6th) - 14:00
Chungnam Asan (9th) vs. Gimpo FC (7th) - 14:00
Bucheon FC 1995 (3rd) vs. Cheonan City (12th) - 16:30
Chungbuk Cheongju (13th vs. Jeonnam Dragons (4th) - 16:30
Hwasong FC (10th) vs. Suwon Bluewings (2nd) - 16:30
