Seoul E-Land’s Late-Summer Slide: Hope or Heartbreak? | OneFootball

It has been an odd end of the summer for Seoul E-Land in the 2025 K League 2. A team that had so much promise and were hovering in and around the playoff positions really did have a mixed bag since the end of July. The Leopards found themselves undefeated since a 2-0 victory against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in that hot month of July, but there is more that meets the eye with a team that isn't exactly free-falling down the ladder, but certainly is not climbing it. Michael Redmond takes a look at what has been the form of Seoul E-Land over the recent weeks: the good, and not so good parts of the season, and what Seoul need to do moving forward if they are going to have any hope of a post-season playoff game in later autumn.

Undeafted... ish

Prior to Seoul falling to the Bluewings 1-0 in the last round of fixtures—Suwon's first victory over Seoul in the league after six attempts—Seoul registered their first loss in eight games. That would be a pleasing stat for most fans of the teams in the league; however, when you take into account that half of those were draws, it does not make good reading. It all started well with a respectable draw against Incheon United, a team who can already basically plan for life in the K League 1 next year. It was just the other teams which left a lot to be desired for the Leopards. The draws included Hwaseong, Gyeongnam, and Gimpo, three teams that have been having less than a stellar season, left a lot more questions than answers for the fans. These three games should have come with a few more points if they truly meant business this year.

The other issue Seoul have is that the teams around them don't seem to want to lose either. Apart from Jeonnam Dragons, who are now looking a little bumpy, registering their third loss in a row in recent weeks (one from Seoul included), the teams around them are doing their jobs.

Euller has been the top goal scorer for Seoul E-Land in the 2025 K-League 2

Busan IPark have won four of their last five games, with the odd one out being a draw. Seongnam have forgotten how to lose with an 11-game undefeated streak, six of those being wins, including victories against Incheon United and Seoul. Even Gimpo, a team that I stated earlier had a poor start, has begun to breathe down Seoul's neck, now being level on points with E-Land and having only one recorded loss in eleven.

It looks as if Seoul are going through the motions but still coming away short, while the teams around them still know how to win. It is a case that Seoul are quietly sinking down with a whimper and not a bang.

It Can't Be Over Yet, Surely?

Well, with ten games to go, it is still up in the air who can claim those lucrative playoff spots. Seoul have tough games against Bucheon 1995, Incheon, and Seongnam over the next coming weeks, three big hitters in a row. However, life gets a little easier for them after this, and on paper, they should beat the teams they face afterwards.

There is one caveat: the game against Busan IPark in October could actually decide the playoff spots if results go either way.

Does the Seoul E-Land boss Kim Do-kyun have a plan for the remainder of the 2025 K league 2 season?

The final three games for E-Land are Gyeongnam, Chungbuk Cheongju, and Ansan Greeners. Three teams Seoul would expect nine points from. However, to be honest, the race for a playoff spot could be over by then if Seoul are still not able to find the back of the net in their games.

Scoring Issues?

Aside from putting five past Cheonnan City a couple of weeks back, Seoul have struggled to find the back of the net. It has only really been Euller, now on ten goals for the season, who has provided for Seoul E-Land in the goal department.

Byeong Gyung-jun has not been able to recreate his greatness from the season prior or earlier this season. We parted ways with Italo and Pedrinho, who played a handful of games for Seoul. We then brought in a player called Alan, who played a glorious 25 minutes before being injured and parted ways.

Seoul E-Land hope to change their fortunes soon in the 2025 K League 2

We still have Gabriel, who came in from Cheongju but is apparently injured, and the same with John Iredale, who was having an okay season before the injury. Finally, Seoul brought in Aaron Calver from Daejeon. It took him a month to start for Seoul for some undisclosed reason, and now he is injured after a couple of games.

The number of foreign players who have been part of this Seoul team this season has been quite astonishing. Fans will pray that Euller stays in perfect health for the remainder of the season. If he ends up being injured, then Seoul can shut up shop for the year right now.

It Maybe Too Late...

To be honest, I don't feel the magic of last year. It felt like we could do something last year, and the team had this belief you could feel. The team this year has even more improvements in the squad from last year. Yes, last year we had Bruno Silva, but this year we have Euller, who has been fantastic for Seoul.

The next three games will define Seoul's season. Get nothing from these three games, and it’s lights out. The form of Seongnam and Gimpo in particular strikes fear into Seoul's eyes, and they could be the final nails in the coffin.

Seoul E-Land finally fell to Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 in the 2025 K League 2

However, this is K League 2, and the implosion of teams is a speciality. If they begin to nose-dive, then Seoul might just have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs. Personally, Incheon have already won the league, and Suwon's win over Seoul last weekend has confirmed second for me. Suwon are known for making things difficult for themselves, but I cannot see them finishing lower than second. So it then becomes the fight for third, fourth, and fifth place.

At this moment in time, Busan, Seongnam, and Gimpo deserve them. Even if the table looks like Bucheon, Busan, and Jeonnam at the moment, based on long-term form, I think these are the three teams that will be going to the wire.

Seoul don't exactly need a miracle, but they need luck to be on their side to claim a playoff spot. They need to be winning and the teams around them tripping up. We did see it last weekend when Bucheon 1995 fell to Chungam Asan 3-0, so it can be done.

Final Thoughts

Personally, I just feel that it could be all she wrote for this season for Seoul. I am okay with it. I still have the sweet memories of last year on my mind. We have not embarrassed ourselves (yet) in any stretch of the imagination, and it gives an idea of what we need to improve next year.

That, and hopefully, we will not be stung by having two K League 1 calibre teams, such as Incheon and Suwon, in the second division of Korean football. Let's level the playing field and start again next year. Pray we keep Euller and build around him and see what happens. However, I do hope I am wrong on this prediction.