Seoul - In a decisive weekend clash, Gimpo FC and Gyeongnam FC, two clubs from South Korea's second-tier football division, will vie for a chance to compete in a promotion-relegation playoff, determining their status for the upcoming year. The critical match is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Gimpo, located west of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Gimpo FC, in only their second season in the K League 2, secured their playoff spot by finishing third in the regular season. Gyeongnam FC, finishing fourth, advanced to this playoff round after defeating the fifth-seeded Bucheon FC 1995 in the first playoff on Wednesday evening.
The victorious team from this weekend's Gimpo-Gyeongnam game will face the 10th-ranked team from the K League 1 in one of two promotion-relegation playoffs. The winner of this two-leg playoff will secure their place in the K League 1 for the 2024 season. Similarly, Busan IPark, the K League 2's second seed, will confront the K League 1's 11th-ranked team in the other promotion-relegation playoff.
Gimpo, who joined K League 2 in 2022, are aspiring to debut in K League 1, while Gyeongnam aims to return to the top division since their last appearance in 2019.
The regular season encounters between Gimpo and Gyeongnam were tightly contested, resulting in low scoring. They drew twice without goals on March 11 and July 29, and Gyeongnam narrowly won 1-0 in their latest meeting on Sunday.
Gimpo's defense was notably strong throughout the season, allowing only 25 goals in 36 matches, the lowest in the K League 2. While their offense was less prolific, scoring 40 goals in total, they boasted the division's top scorer, Luis Fabian Mina, who contributed 16 goals.
In their two-year history, Gimpo has struggled against Gyeongnam, with only one victory in seven encounters, alongside four losses and one draw.