Because the worldwide break has encounter us, it’s time as soon as once more to decelerate and check out what is going on within the run-in in Ok League 2. For Seoul E-Land FC, one thing that was as soon as seen as a miracle has as soon as once more turn out to be regular apply, as they sit within the playoffs with six fixtures left on their calendar.
Nonetheless, this 12 months appears a little bit totally different. With 1st and 2nd being computerized this 12 months, and the truth that Seoul E-Land sit in Third, one thing fairly distinctive for the Leopards to date into the season, is it time that Seoul E-Land can take a look at themselves and eventually begin to dream of one thing huge? For Seoul, they’ve reached the playoff finals solely as soon as, the place they succumbed to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2024.
One closing push may see them skip the playoffs and dance in Ok League 1 with computerized promotion.
Is it lastly time for Seoul E-Land to make the leap? Can the Leopards lastly obtain what was as soon as solely a dream for the followers within the stands? d takes a take a look at what’s down the street for the Leopards.
A Workforce in Type
For Seoul, it has been a gradual summer time. Just one loss within the final twelve video games has meant that Seoul hasn't wanted to depend on different groups shedding to remain in competition and sit within the playoffs. Nonetheless, 4 of these video games led to attracts, which was a lack of 8 factors. If solely that they had acquired a win in a single or two of these video games, then this text could be a special story, and we might be speaking a couple of potential league win.
Their one loss got here in mid-August after they fell 1-0 to Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and for a lot of, it might really feel like profitable the league is perhaps out of the query now. Suwon sit 5 factors forward with one sport greater than Seoul to play. So, let's say they’re eight factors forward with solely six video games left? It's a little bit of a tall ask, and luck must be mightily on their aspect for Seoul to catch as much as them.
Nonetheless, Seoul are undoubtedly performing higher this 12 months than final 12 months. Seoul needed to wait till the ultimate sport of the season final 12 months to verify a playoff spot, and even then, it was a 4th-place end. Seoul have additionally carried out strongly all through the enterprise finish of the season through the years, and that is one thing they should replicate as soon as once more if they’re to have glory come November.
It is a workforce which have been too younger two years in the past, simply missed the mark final 12 months. Might the boss, Kim Do-kyun, lastly crack the code on the third time of asking?
Kim Do-kyun: The Man Behind the Leopards
On November eleventh, 2026, Kim Do-kyun will formally turn out to be Seoul E-Land's longest-serving supervisor, and he has to go down as one of the vital appreciated amongst the followers. Through the years, Seoul E-Land have had a one-season-and-done impact with managers, till Chung Jung-yong got here into the workforce.
For Chung Jung-yong, though his first season was good, the second and third have been removed from fascinating, with Seoul ending eleventh in 2021 and seventh in 2022. In the event you examine that with Kim Do-kyun, in his first season he guided Seoul to a playoff closing. Final 12 months, Seoul have been as soon as once more within the playoffs earlier than they fell to Seongnam, and this 12 months they’re greater than on the best way to a different playoff or potential computerized promotion. The boss has labored a surprise on this workforce.
Not solely that, however the followers have a deep appreciation for the boss. He respects the supporters and is lastly giving Seoul E-Land an identification in any case these years. He’s additionally not afraid to carry his arms up and admit when he has acquired one thing fallacious. Previously, Seoul managers have spoken about having a Plan B or Plan C, however these plans not often got here to fruition. Do-kyun, nevertheless, is usually prepared to acknowledge when one thing isn't proper and must be addressed, and most of the time, he has been profitable in making these modifications.
Kim Do-kyun labored his means up via the youth growth system at Ulsan Hyundai earlier than finally becoming a member of the first-team teaching employees. From there, he took his first senior managerial job at Suwon FC, the place he had a formidable season in Ok League 2, profitable promotion to Ok League 1 earlier than conserving Suwon within the high flight throughout his time there. Now, I believe the boss will wish to do one thing comparable with Seoul E-Land. He has already constructed one thing right here that the followers can imagine in, however I don't suppose he will likely be happy with simply one other playoff look. He’ll wish to cement his title into the historical past of this membership, and if he can lastly take the Leopards into Ok League 1, then there isn’t any doubt in my thoughts that he may have performed precisely that.
The Run-In
With six video games remaining, Seoul E-Land know precisely what’s forward of them. There are some tough fixtures, some video games they need to be profitable, and a few video games which may show essential to their hopes of computerized promotion or a playoff place.
Friday ninth October – Gimpo (Away)
Probably the hardest of the ultimate six. Gimpo sit in seventh and are additionally desirous to knock on the door of the playoffs. They’re six factors behind a playoff spot with one sport in hand. They are going to be eyeing up Seoul E-Land and seeking to flip Seoul's dream right into a nightmare. That, and they’re going to need revenge after falling 2-1 to Seoul again in Could at Mokdong Stadium.
Sunday 18th October – Gimhae FC (Dwelling)
There aren’t any simple video games in Ok League 2, and even all through time, Seoul have truly carried out higher enjoying the groups on the high and struggled when preventing these on the backside. They are going to should be alert after they face bottom-of-the-league Gimhae FC. The workforce has solely two wins this season and sit backside on 13 factors.
Seoul beat them 3-1 again in July. Possibly Gimhae will wish to restore some delight in themselves earlier than the season is out, or possibly they’ll roll over for Seoul. The Leopards will hope for the latter.
Saturday thirty first October – Yongin FC (Away)
Not too dangerous of a season for Yongin of their first 12 months in Ok League 2. They sit in thirteenth place with solely 5 wins this 12 months. Nonetheless, that is the primary workforce on the checklist which truly took factors off Seoul after they performed out a 2-2 draw again in Could at Mokdong Stadium.
Seoul can not slip up right here and need to take all three factors on the street. The on-paper end result wants to return to life right here, and Seoul can not enable one other draw. I say this as a result of Yongin are the draw specialists, with 12 to date this season. Solely Cheongju have extra.
Saturday seventh November – Jeonnam Dragons (Dwelling)
What has occurred to Jeonnam Dragons this 12 months?
For a lot of a season, Seoul and Jeonnam have been those battling one another to get right into a playoff spot. Even previous to this, Jeonnam have been the workforce that will frequently humiliate Seoul E-Land. However this 12 months? They’ve solely 4 wins this marketing campaign and sit sixteenth, solely forward of Gimhae.
On paper, that is a straightforward win, however Jeonnam Dragons have a behavior of upsetting Seoul E-Land after they want it most. Seoul got here out 1-0 victors when the 2 confronted off in Could, and famously, a 2-2 draw within the playoff semi-final between the 2 in 2024 noticed Seoul progress to the playoff closing. Hopefully, Jeonnam don’t rise to the event on this one.
Sunday twenty second November – Chungnam Asan (Dwelling)
From one workforce that consistently upsets Seoul to a different one. Chungnam Asan FC simply know how you can beat Seoul E-Land. Even in prior years, after they have been Asan Mugunhwa, they simply took all they may off Seoul E-Land.
Personally, that is the fixture which worries me most.
Seoul fell 3-0 to Chungnam again in Could on the Yi Solar-sin Stadium. It was Seoul's heaviest defeat of the 12 months. You’ll hope that, being the penultimate sport of the season, and hopefully with Seoul in the identical or perhaps a higher standing than they’re now, they rise to the event.
Sunday twenty ninth November – Gyeongnam (Away)
Once more, a tough finish to the season for Seoul.
Traditionally, Gyeongnam have been proper up there prior to now, being promoted and even ending 2nd in Ok League 1, with many because of Brazilian superstaro. This 12 months, they’re nonetheless in playoff competition, sitting in ninth place. It sounds far, however they’re solely seven factors off with a sport in hand.
Gyeongnam are one other a type of groups Seoul have struggled with prior to now. Their sport in early March noticed Seoul run out winners. The Leopards would 100% take that when extra.
What Does Seoul Want?
To catch Suwon, the maths is easy. Seoul want Suwon to slide up as soon as, and they should rating 5 extra targets than Suwon over the remaining fixtures. That might be sufficient to see the Leopards leapfrog them and safe computerized promotion.
However even when Seoul can not catch Suwon, there’s nonetheless one other path to Ok League 1: the playoffs.
Technically, there are nonetheless seven groups under Seoul who can attain the playoffs. Nonetheless, whereas groups akin to Chungbuk Cheongju, Paju Frontier and Yongin FC are nonetheless mathematically within the race, the hole makes it extremely tough to see them making a severe push. Realistically, the groups Seoul should be trying over their shoulder at are Gimpo, Chungnam Asan, Gyeongnam and Seongnam. All 4 have a sport in hand, which Seoul E-Land wouldn’t have, so there’s nonetheless a risk to the Leopards' playoff place. Nonetheless, while you truly take a look at the fixtures, it turns into much more difficult.
Chungnam Asan and Gyeongnam each nonetheless need to play Seoul E-Land, and you’ll wager they are going to be enjoying out of their pores and skin in these video games. It isn't simply Seoul who may have their very own cup closing in thoughts; these groups will see these video games as an enormous alternative to pull themselves nearer to the playoffs. Seoul must be prepared for that.Gimpo have their very own tough run-in too. They nonetheless need to face Suwon FC and Hwaseong, two video games the place factors will likely be laborious to return by. Seongnam, in the meantime, have a nightmare run arising, with back-to-back video games in opposition to the 2 Suwons earlier than additionally going through Daegu. Factors will likely be dropped there, and that would play straight into Seoul E-Land's arms.
Gyeongnam additionally need to face each Suwons back-to-back, which means they too may drop beneficial factors earlier than the season is over. Even Chungnam Asan have an interesting closing fixture, going through Busan IPark on the final day of the season. That would probably flip right into a who-gets-the-playoffs sport.
There’s additionally one other attention-grabbing factor to the groups chasing Seoul. A number of of them nonetheless need to face the 2 Suwons, and relying on the outcomes, these video games may truly profit Seoul both means. If Suwon FC or Suwon Samsung choose up wins, they’ll strengthen their very own positions, probably taking factors away from the groups chasing Seoul. But when Seongnam or Gyeongnam can take factors from the Suwons, all of the sudden the Leopards may begin to dream a little bit larger. Each end result involving these groups may impact Seoul's season.
So, whereas Seoul E-Land must deal with themselves, in addition they have a little bit little bit of assist round them. The groups chasing the Leopards have some critically tough fixtures of their very own, and with so lots of them enjoying one another, factors are going to be dropped someplace.
It’s also necessary to notice Daegu, Hwaseong and Busan IPark. They may also wish to overtake Seoul and declare Third place, as a result of each place issues with regards to the playoffs. Ending Third would imply going through sixth at residence, whereas 4th and fifth must face one another. With the higher-placed workforce progressing within the occasion of a draw, Seoul will wish to maintain on to Third and provides themselves the absolute best route via the playoffs.
The Gimcheon State of affairs
There’s additionally one other attention-grabbing twist to the promotion image this 12 months, and that comes from Gimcheon Sangmu. No matter the place they end, Gimcheon will likely be relegated to Ok League 2 on the finish of the season, which means that in the event that they keep away from ending backside of Ok League 1, the workforce that does end backside will face the shedding workforce from the Ok League 2 promotion closing in a promotion-relegation playoff.
Proper now, that workforce could be Gwangju. They sit backside of Ok League 1 on simply 15 factors, with eight video games remaining and 24 factors nonetheless accessible. Gimcheon are sitting in tenth on 33 factors, 18 factors away from Gwangju, and wish simply seven extra factors to mathematically assure that they can’t end backside. Gwangju can nonetheless mathematically escape the underside, however they would wish an enormous turnaround over the ultimate eight video games.
For Seoul E-Land, this might imply that even when they fall on the closing hurdle within the promotion playoff, the dream will not be over. If Gimcheon keep away from backside spot, the Leopards may have one closing probability to succeed in Ok League 1 by going through whoever finishes backside of the highest flight.
Six Video games, One Dream
For Seoul E-Land, the street is simple. Win your six remaining video games and also you no less than have a playoff semi-final at residence. You have got two video games to glory. Higher but, if Suwon FC or, extra dramatically, Suwon Samsung Bluewings slip up, then computerized promotion is on the playing cards.
Personally, I believe Seoul will preserve maintain of their Third-place end. I believe the playoffs are greater than seemingly secured now; it’s simply the very best end doable that’s wanted now to present themselves that semi-final residence benefit, the place a draw will put them into that playoff closing. That, and the ultimate will then even be in Leoul Park if they will dare to dream.
Might you think about it? Early December, within the bitter, temperate wind of Seoul, watching Seoul E-Land one sport away from historical past and promotion into Ok League 1.
The workforce is absolutely giving the followers hope of seeing a promoted Seoul workforce. They’re constructing 12 months on 12 months and giving themselves an actual shot at promotion. This workforce isn’t getting there by luck. Seoul E-Land will deserve it if they will attain Ok League 1, particularly after their historical past and the way darkish the times have been as soon as earlier than.
