SEOUL, With the regular season in the books for the second division in South Korean football, a select few teams will have a chance to be promoted to the top league for 2024 through the playoffs.
The first playoff series in the K League 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday between Gyeongnam FC and Bucheon FC 1995.
Gimcheon Sangmu FC won the K League 2 title Sunday and earned a direct promotion to the K League 1 for next year. The runner-up team, Busan IPark, will play the No. 11 club from the K League 1, which will be determined Saturday, in one of the two promotion-relegation playoff series.
In this Nov. 11, 2023, file photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League, Gyeongnam FC players acknowledge their supporters following a 1-1 draw against Gimcheon Sangmu FC during the clubs K League 2 match at Changwon Football Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
The other promotion-relegation playoff series will pit the No. 10 seed from the K League 1 against a playoff winner from the K League 2.
The winner of the Gyeongnam-Bucheon showdown will advance to the second K League 2 playoff series against the No. 3 seed, Gimpo FC. The winner of that match, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, will advance to the promotion-relegation playoff against the 10th-seed from the K League 1.
In this Nov. 11, 2023, file photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League, Lee Jun-jae of Gyeongnam FC (L) tries to dribble past Won Du-jae of Gimcheon Sangmu FC (C) during the clubs K League 2 match at Changwon Football Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.
Gyeongnam, by virtue of finishing ahead of Bucheon in the tables, will be the host of the one-and-done playoff Wednesday evening at Changwon Football Center in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The two clubs both finished with 57 points, but Gyeongnam held the edge in the first tiebreaking category, goals scored, at 54 to 45.
These two teams met three times during the regular season. Gyeongnam won the first meeting 1-0 on March 1, before Bucheon claimed the next two matches — a 2-0 win on Aug. 14, followed by a 1-0 victory on Sept. 24.
Gleyson Garcia led Gyeongnam’s attack with 13 goals, while Won Ki-jong contributed 10 goals.
Bucheon only had one player scoring in double figures, with An Jae-joon finishing with 11 goals after a hat trick against Jeonnam Dragons in a 4-1 victory Sunday. Defender Nilson Junior chipped in five goals from the back line.
Lee Ui-hyung of Bucheon FC 1995 (L) battles Yoo Ji-ha of Jeonnam Dragons for the ball during the clubs’ K League 2 match at Bucheon Stadium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 26, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League.
There will be no extra time if the teams remain deadlocked after 90 minutes of action. Gyeongnam, as the higher seed, will be declared the winner in that scenario.
The next playoff series, between Gimpo FC and the winner of the Gyeongnam-Bucheon match, will also have no extra time, and Gimpo will have the upper hand as the higher seed if the match is tied after 90 minutes.
If Gyeongnam don’t win Wednesday, it will be the final match for their head coach Seol Ki-hyeon, who was told by the management on Nov. 11 that his contract would not be renewed after the season, even if Gyeongnam earned a promotion. Seol has been in charge since 2020.
While K League 2 clubs will be fighting to move up to the K League 1, three bottom feeders in the top division will try to avoid relegation to the lower division on their final regular season match Saturday.
Gangwon FC currently sit in 10th place with 33 points, followed by Suwon FC and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 11th and 12th place, with 32 points apiece. Suwon FC lead Suwon Samsung Bluewings in goals scored, 43-35, a gap that the latter club will likely not be able to erase in one match.
Nilson Junior of Bucheon FC 1995 (R) is embraced by teammate Jucie Lupeta (2nd from R) after scoring against Jeonnam Dragons during the clubs’ K League 2 match at Bucheon Stadium in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 26, 2023, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League.
Of these three, only Suwon Samsung Bluewings have never played in the K League 2 since the promotion-relegation system was put in place in 2013. Gangwon last played in the second division in 2016, and Suwon haven’t been down there since earning a promotion after the 2020 season.
Gangwon and Suwon Samsung Bluewings will meet Saturday, while Suwon FC will face Jeju United, who are safely out of the relegation zone in ninth place.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
