WK League News

The match:
Gyeongju KHNP vs. Hwacheon KSPO
19:00, Friday 8th August 2025
Pitch 2*, Changnyeong Sports Park
Streaming: YouTube via iTop21Sports

*N.B. Pitch change due to pitch condition

The competition so far:
Gyeongju and Hwacheon were drawn in Group 1, where they both beat Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels and Mungyeong Sangmu before going head-to-head in the final group match. Hwacheon led 1-0 for most of the game before Gyeongju snatched victory in the dying minutes thanks to two Jang Selgi stunners in injury time. In Wednesday’s semi-finals, Gyeongju comfortably beat old rivals Suwon FC 3-0, and Hwacheon were ruthless against Sejong Sportstoto, breaking down their defence and their morale early in the game to go 4-0 up. A late goal from Sejong’s Jung Seolbin robbed them of their clean sheet, but KSPO were never in much danger.

Form:
It’s no coincidence that the two finalists currently occupy the top two spots in the WK League table. From the start of the season, Hwacheon KSPO’s experienced squad have played high quality possession-based football, displaying quick, well-drilled passing and excellent on-pitch communication. KSPO have recorded only one loss in the 2025 league so far, and despite a recent run of draws, they have managed to maintain a few points’ gap between them and the scrap for 2nd and 3rd positions, which is currently being led by Gyeongju. Gyeongju have the chance to reduce that gap next week with a catch-up league fixture against Incheon Hyundai.

For their part, Gyeongju KHNP had a shakier start to the 2025 season despite a roster that could almost be mistaken for a WK League all-star team. Gyeongju tend to play a more direct style than Hwacheon, their midfielders making runs through the centre of the pitch when space opens up, or sending long balls up the wings to be picked up by any one of their pacy forwards.

While Hwacheon KSPO’s squad is unchanged since the start of the season, and largely unchanged since 2024 (when they WK League runners-up after finishing the regular league season in 1st place), Gyeongju have been busy in the summer transfer window, further bolstering their squad with national team captain Lee Youngju and former Japan international Emi Nakajima.

Head-to-head:
The finalists have met three times so far in this year’s WK League. Hwacheon have won twice (2-0 on both occasions), while the other meeting ended in a 2-2 draw. As previously mentioned, the teams came up against each other in the group stage of this competition, with Gyeongju claiming a 2-1 victory.

Key players:
Gyeongju captain Jang Selgi is consistently impressive. Her ability to dodge opposition and carry the ball high up the pitch have earned her eight assists so far in the 2025 league season, and as we have seen, she is more than capable of scoring goals herself, too. New to the KHNP squad, Lee Youngju is an experienced and dependable presence in defence, giving Jang, and Kim Jinhee, more freedom to push higher and create goal chances.

Hwacheon’s Wie Jae-eun and Jung Jiyeon form a formidable partnership, seamlessly covering for each other when needed as they progress the ball rapidly up the left wing. Wie’s pace and positioning helped her to score two of Hwacheon’s four goals in the semi-final. Also on the score sheet was defender Kim Yuri, scoring her first goal for KSPO in Wednesday’s match. One of the squad’s younger members, Kim has been coming into her own this season, her confidence on the pitch further boosted recently by a first call-up for the national team.

What to expect:
The stage is set for an exciting final between two of the WK League’s strongest teams. Hwacheon’s high press and work rate were very effective against Sejong, who lacked the pace and stamina to keep up with them in yesterday’s semi-final, but could leave them vulnerable to quick counter-attacks from Gyeongju, a team that is very good at scoring goals when they have the opportunity to do so. For their part, Gyeongju will need to be alert and focused from the first whistle — KHNP have proved themselves capable of turning a match around in the final few minutes on a few occasions recently, but they won’t want to be desperately chasing an equaliser in a championship final. Equally, neither team can afford to get complacent if they do score early — there are no forgone conclusions between two such high-quality and dynamic teams. Expect to see a fast-paced display of pride and passion as Hwacheon seek revenge for that group stage defeat, in what may well turn out to be a dress rehearsal for this year’s WK League Championship final.