2026 K League 2 Round 14 Preview | OneFootball

Round 14 of the K League 2 season brings together several of the division’s form teams as the race for promotion and playoff places continues to intensify. With confidence growing across the league and several clubs beginning to find their identity, this weekend’s fixtures could prove another important turning point in the season.

Match of the Round

Gimhae host Gimpo eyeing back-to-back wins 

Round 14 sees Gimhae FC 2008 host Gimpo FC. Gimhae claimed their long-awaited first K League win in their most recent outing against Jeonnam Dragons, while Gimpo come into the match unbeaten in their last three games with two wins and a draw.

Gimhae had endured a difficult start to the season prior to the Jeonnam match, recording two draws and nine defeats. With just eight goals scored and 27 conceded, the balance between attack and defence had also been a major issue. To make matters more difficult, head coach Son Hyun-jun stepped down, meaning the Jeonnam match was overseen by assistant coach Choi Myung-sung.

However, the South Gyeongsang side looked far more organised under the interim setup. Defensively, Choi Jun-young and Yeo Jae-yul added much-needed stability, while goalkeeper Choi Pil-soo produced several crucial saves to guide the team to a 1-0 clean sheet victory. Gimhae’s concentration stood out as they protected a lead earned through an opposition own goal until the final whistle.

Gimpo, meanwhile, have also been enjoying a steady run of form. Due to renovation work on their home pitch, they have been forced to begin the season with 12 consecutive away matches, with only this trip to Gimhae remaining. Despite the demanding schedule, Gimpo have posted five wins, five draws, and two defeats, proving difficult to break down.

In their most recent match against Paju Frontier, Gimpo secured a 1-0 win thanks to Kim Sung-jun’s late winner in a tightly contested game. Their recent improvement has been credited to a shift away from their traditionally defensive approach, increasing possession while making better use of their physical strengths.

This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides. With Gimhae looking to build momentum after their first victory and Gimpo aiming to push further up the table, an intense contest is expected. Gimhae and Gimpo meet on Saturday the 30th at Gimhae Sports Complex.

Team of the Round

A back-in-form Daegu FC

Spring has returned to Daegu. After an inconsistent start to the season, Daegu FC have successfully turned the tide thanks to a recent upturn in form.

The Sky Blues' campaign did not begin with blue skies. They appeared to be building momentum with three straight wins after the opening round, but then stumbled with two draws and three defeats in their next five matches. Defensive instability was a particular concern. Operating with a back four, Daegu repeatedly dropped points late in matches. In Round 8 against Cheonan City, they conceded twice in stoppage time to suffer a frustrating defeat.

Recently, though, the atmosphere around the club has changed completely. Under new head coach Choi Sung-yong, Daegu are unbeaten in four matches with three wins and a draw, climbing to fifth place in the standings.

Perhaps the biggest positive has been their renewed defensive solidity, keeping clean sheets in three of those four matches. In their most recent outing against Ansan Greeners, Daegu also demonstrated their attacking quality by scoring three goals. Alongside the regular starters, substitutes such as Park Ki-hyun and Edgar Bruno have also made strong contributions. Overall, Daegu are beginning to look far more balanced at both ends of the pitch.

Riding this momentum, Daegu travel to Yongin FC this round. Yongin are also unbeaten in their last three matches with one win and two draws. The two sides meet on Saturday the 30th at Yongin Mireu Stadium.

Player of the Round

Hwaseong's supersub Sava Petrov

Hwaseong FC's rise shows no signs of slowing down. They have recorded five wins and two draws from their last seven matches, climbing to fourth place in the table. Head coach Cha Du-ri’s tactics and leadership, combined with the squad’s strong winning mentality, have helped maintain their impressive run. Sava Petrov’s recent performances have been central to that surge.

Hwaseong produced a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Chungbuk Cheongju in Round 13. Trailing 2-1 until the 80th minute, Petrov completely changed the game.

Introduced in the 56th minute in place of Kim Byung-oh, Petrov equalised in the 80th minute with a header from a Demethryus cross. Then, just before full time, he struck again with another header from a corner to complete the comeback.

Petrov’s greatest strength has been his remarkable efficiency in front of goal. Despite mostly appearing as a substitute, he has already scored seven goals and currently leads the league scoring charts. Six of those seven goals have directly contributed to victories, underlining his value as a decisive finisher.

Starting with a brace against Gimhae in a 2-0 win, Petrov then scored the winner against Jeonnam in a 1-0 victory and followed that with another winning goal in a 3-2 win over Busan. Against Chungbuk Cheongju, he delivered both the equaliser and the winner in another 3-2 comeback triumph.

With Petrov leading the charge, Hwasong now aim to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches as they host Gyeongnam FC this round. Gyeongnam are also in strong form after overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Suwon FC 3-2 in their previous match, extending their own run to two wins and a draw from the last three games. The in-form sides meet on Sunday the 31st at Hwaseong Sports Complex.

Saturday 30th May

Busan IPark vs. Paju Frontier - 16:30Chungnam Asan vs. Suwon Samsung Bluewings - 16:30Yongin FC vs. Daegu FC - 16:30Gimhae FC 2008 vs. Gimpo FC - 19:00Suwon FC vs. Seongnam FC - 19:00

Sunday 31st May

Hwaseong FC vs. Gyeongnam FC - 16:30Jeonnam Dragons vs. Seoul E-Land - 16:30Ansan Greeners vs. Cheonan City - 19:00