The 2026 K-League 1 season will continue with Round 2 this Saturday. Can Bucheon pull off two wins in the top flight, or can Daejeon get its first win of 2026? Anyang will draw with Daejeon in their first match at home against Jeju, while Gimcheon will look to test Jeonbuk’s mettle when the champions visit.
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This round
Bucheon FC 1995 vs. Daejeon Hana Citizens – 16:30 (ENG)
In the second round, Bucheon FC 1995 will face off against Daejeon Asiana Citizens for the first time in three and a half years. The two teams last faced off in the K-League 2 in August 2022, but will now face off for the first time in the K-League 1 stage.
The home team Bucheon advanced to the K-League Level 1 for the first time in history. In the much-anticipated season opener, they came from behind to beat defending champions Jeonbuk 3-2, leaving a lasting impression. Brazilian forward Jefferson Gallego was elected as the MVP of this round with two goals and one assist, while Montaño, who equalized the score, and Baek Dongkyu, who performed well on defense, were selected into the best team of this round. In addition, the Bucheon team won the best team and best match honors in this round, completing an excellent K-League debut. Now, the Bucheon team will strive for back-to-back victories in the first home game of the K-League 1 season.
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The visiting team Daejeon finished second in K-League 1 last season, the best result in the club’s history, and has signed impressive players in the transfer market and is considered a strong contender for this year’s championship. However, they got off to a slow start, losing 2-0 to Jeonbuk in the Super Cup and drawing 1-1 with Ping An Yang in the season opener. They will now look for their first win to find some momentum. Despite failing to defeat Anyang, Daejeon showed some positive signs. Seo Jin-soo scored the first goal after a connection between Gustav Ludwigsen and Zhu Min-kyu, a classic example of Daejeon’s sharp attack. New foreign forward Diogo seems to have quickly adapted to the team’s tactics. On the other hand, goalkeeper Li Changgen played steadily, punching 4 times, catching the ball 1 time, and his save rate was as high as 83.3%.
Watch K League TV’s live broadcast with English commentary: here
Best team this round
Anyang FC (vs Jeju SK)
FC Anyang drew with Daejeon 1-1 in the first round and gained a solid point. They faced a crisis after being awarded a penalty before the final whistle, but goalkeeper Kim Jung-hoon’s save and the composure of the Violet defense helped them preserve a valuable point.
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Head coach Ryu Byung-hun announced before the season that the team would play a more proactive “zombie football” style. Against Daejeon, Anyang attempted a bold attack, led by forwards Ivan Jukic and Matheus Oliveira, as well as the speedy Choi Gun-ju. Especially in the second half, they pushed their defense higher, increased their pressing intensity, forced their opponents to make many mistakes, and created many opportunities. This shows that Anyang’s offense is sharper this season.
Defensively, Thomas Ode Kot, who can play multiple positions, formed a three-man back line with Lee Chang-yong and Kwon Kyung-won, providing stability. Despite playing as a defender, Thomas completed 13 passes into the offensive zone, effectively serving as the link between defense and offense. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Kim Jung-hoon made his debut in Anyang and his two crucial saves at the death raised expectations for the season.
Anyang’s opponent in the second round will be Jeju SK. Last season, Jeju Island had the upper hand in this match with three wins over Anyang.
Watch K League TV’s live broadcast with English commentary: here
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Lee Kun-hee, Kim Chun Sang-mu (vs. Jeonbuk)
Gimcheon Sangmu drew 1-1 with Pohang Steelers in the season opener. In that game, forward Li Jianxi performed well every time the Jinquan team created an offensive opportunity.
Lee Kun-hee, who made his debut with Seoul E-Land in 2020, used his strong frame and high work rate to defeat defenders, and these qualities were on display against Pohang. In the 4th minute, Lee Jae-yong concentrated on helping Ko Jae-hyun kick off the ball and scored his first goal for Gimcheon. He reacted fastest and saved a loose ball in the penalty area.
In the second half, one of his breakthrough breakthroughs resulted in the opponent being sent off with a red card, and the Jinquan team gained a numerical advantage. With extremely high work efficiency, he also completed 6 forward passes and 1 key pass. Li Jianxi, who plays multiple roles in the frontcourt such as shooting, receiving, and pressing, will once again become a highlight in the second round.
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The opponent of Gimcheon team will be Jeonbuk team. Last season, the two teams had a record of 2-2, evenly matched. Whether Lee Kun-hee’s strong form can lead the Gimcheon team to their first win of the season is attracting much attention.
2026 K League 1st Round 2nd Schedule
Saturday, March 7
Gwangju FC vs Incheon United – 16:30
Bucheon FC 1995 vs. Daejeon Hana Citizens – 16:30
Sunday, March 8
Kimcheon Sangmu vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motor – 14:00
FC Anyang vs. Jeju SK – 16:30
The match between Pohang Steelers and Gangwon FC has been postponed and will be played on Saturday, March 28 at 3pm. Ulsan HD’s match against FC Seoul has also been postponed, with a new date and time to be determined.
via K-League press release
