After Wednesday's action, the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 2 season is already at Round 2. Gimpo FC begin their season after sitting Round 1 out, two of the opening-day victors Chungbuk Cheongju and Gimcheon Sangmu meet for the former's first-ever K League home match, while the likes of Seoul E-Land, Ansan Greeners, and Bucheon FC 1995 will be looking to get their first wins of the season.
Match of the Round
Chungbuk Cheongju vs Gimcheon Sangmu - Sat. 4th Match, 13:30
The only match-up this weekend between teams that won on opening day sees Chungbuk Cheongju take on Gimcheon Sangmu this Saturday lunchtime. For Chungbuk Cheongju, the K League newcomers marked their very first match at this level with a 3-2 away victory over Seoul E-Land. Paulinho opened the scoring with nine minutes on the clock, nodding in Peter Makrillos' cross from the right. Scorer then turned provider when Paulino teed up Moon Sang-yun six minutes into the second half inside the box. A third goal came on 64 minutes with Jorge Luiz scoring the pick of the bunch - a stunning long-ranger, right-footed into the top corner. Seoul E-Land mounted a comeback but life in K League began with a win for Chungbuk Cheongju.
Gimcheon, meanwhile, had to work a bit harder for their win, scoring two late goals to beat Chungnam Asan 2-1. After falling behind to a 50th-minute Róbson Duarte goal, Gimcheon eventually found themselves on level footing with Lee Sang-min bundling the ball in from on the line. His FC Seoul teammate Cho Young-wook then added the winner three minutes into time added on, showing great footwork in the box before hammering the ball into the top corner.
Chungbuk Cheongju were the most accurate shooters on opening day with 89% of shots finding the target and while Gimcheon dispatched the same number (9), their accuracy was at 67%. Won Du-jae, meanwhile, was the most accurate passer at 94.74% for Gimcheon while Paulino for Chungbuk Cheongju ranked third for dribbles.
Watch the match live on TV.KLeague.com.
Team of the Round
FC Anyang (vs. Seoul E-Land)
FC Anyang began the new season in much the same fashion as they began the last, with a 1-0 win over Jeonnam Dragons and Jonathan Moya on the scoresheet. Only this time, the Violets are on the road and Costa Rica international Moya struck in the 94th minute, drilling the ball home from six yards out after Jeonnam were unable to clear the corner from the right. It was Anyang's first win in five as the Lee Woo-hyung's men ended the 2022 season with two defeats and two draws. Buoyed by the last gasp win on Wednesday, FC Anyang are at home to Seoul E-Land this weekend - a side that will be looking to bounce back from a defeat to K League 2 newcomers Chungbuk Cheongju.
Player of the Round
Won Ki-jong, Gyeongnam FC (vs. Jeonnam Dragons)
Won Ki-jong's 52nd-minute strike for Gyeongnam at home to Bucheon FC 1995 on Wednesday has the Roses up and running for the season. The former Seoul E-Land and Daejeon forward raced onto a loose ball as Gyeongnam hit Bucheon on the counter, before slotting the ball past Lee Bum-soo from 18 yards out. Lee Yong-hyeok's header backwards meant Won was onside. It was Won's second goal for Gyeongnam having only signed for the club last summer on loan, but first since making his stay in Changwon permanent. The 27-year-old had the most touches in the box on opening weekend with seven and showed 75% shooting accuracy. Already off the mark for the season, Won will be looking to add to his tally this Sunday when Gyeongnam travel to Jeonnam.
Elsewhere in K League 2 Round 2
Bucheon FC 1995 versus Seongnam FC sees two Gyeonggi Province-based promotion contenders go toe to toe. Bucheon lost on opening day and so will be keen to get up and running in front of their own supporters. Seongnam, meanwhile, sealed a late, late win at home to Ansan Greeners thanks to Shin Jae-won's injury-time goal. Two wins from two would mean the best possible start for new Magpies manager Lee Ki-hyung. Seongnam's Park Ji-won enjoyed a good start to the season, registering 100% shooting accuracy against Ansan. Bucheon goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo, meanwhile, made the second-highest number of saves last time out with five.
Ansan Greeners at home to Chungnam Asan is a game between two sides that'll be looking to put opening-day defeats behind them. The Green Wolves conceded late on to fall to a 2-1 loss away to Seongnam FC while Chungnam Asan were dealt a late blow against Gimcheon Sangmu. Chungham Asan's Robson Duarte made four key passes in that match, the most on opening day in K League 2 while no player completed more dribbles than Ansan's Gabriel Honório with 13.
Meanwhile, Gimpo FC get their 2023 campaign started with the visit of K League 2 newcomers Cheonan City. Gimpo sat out the first round but will be looking to show that they are the more experienced team at K League level. Cheonan came close to getting a result on opening day, losing narrowly to Busan IPark. Bruno Mota scored both of Cheonan's goals, the only player on opening day to score a brace.
K League 2 Round 2 Fixtures
Saturday 4th March
#BUCvSFC: Bucheon FC 1995 vs Seongnam FC - 13:30
#CHFCvGIM: Chungbuk Cheongju vs Gimcheon Sangmu - 13:30
#ANSvCAFC: Ansan Greeners vs Chungnam Asan - 16:00
Sunday 5th March
#GFCvCCFC: Gimpo FC vs Cheonan City - 13:30
#ANYvSEFC: FC Anyang vs Seoul E-Land - 16:00
#JDFCvGYE: Jeonnam Dragons vs Gyeongnam FC - 16:00
Busan IPark sit Round 2 out.
Where to Watch
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TV.KLeague.com.
