Gangwon FC secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Daejeon Hana Citizen in the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 14 clash at Gangneung High1 Arena on the 12th. The win lifted Gangwon to 5 wins, 6 draws, and 3 losses for 21 points, extending their unbeaten run to four matches (2 wins, 2 draws).
The first half was largely controlled by Gangwon, who used their trademark high press to disrupt Daejeon’s build-up play. Daejeon attempted to find a way out with long balls, but Gangwon’s defenders positioned themselves well. Lee Yu-hyeon and Mo Jae-hyeon led the attacking charge with aggressive shots, creating multiple scoring opportunities. Gangwon also earned six corner kicks in the first half alone, maintaining constant pressure.
Toward the end of the first half, Daejeon threatened on the counter. In the 44th minute, Seo Jin-su’s left-wing cross was met by a powerful header from Diogo, but goalkeeper Park Cheong-hyo’s save deflected the ball onto the crossbar. Deep into added time, Rubikson also had a clear chance, only for Park to tip the shot onto the post, leaving Daejeon frustrated.
Both teams started the second half with unchanged lineups. The pattern repeated: Gangwon pressed high, and Daejeon struggled to build from the back. Gangwon’s energy kept the game in the opponent’s half. Daejeon made the first substitution in the 59th minute, replacing Diogo and Jeong Jae-hee with Joao Victor and Yoo Kang-hyun to refresh the attack. The change almost paid off instantly when Yoo Kang-hyun headed a long ball into space for Joao Victor, whose shot was again denied by Park Cheong-hyo.
With the game stagnating, Gangwon made a change in the 66th minute, replacing the hard-working Ko Young-joon and Choi Byung-chan with Abudalla and Kim Kun-hee to add more firepower. The fresh legs shifted momentum back to Gangwon. In the 68th minute, Kim Dae-won unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from the left edge of the arc, narrowly missing the far post. Three minutes later, Song Jun-seok’s cross from the left found Abudalla’s header, but it flew off target.
Under pressure, Daejeon made a double substitution in the 76th minute, pulling full-backs Kim Moon-hwan and Park Kyu-hyun for Babsin and Lee Myung-jae, moving Kang Yoon-sung to right-back and slotting Babsin into central defense. Despite the changes, Gangwon kept pushing. In the 79th minute, Kim Dae-won’s powerful strike from the center of the arc again shaved the post.
Gangwon’s relentless pressure finally paid off in the 86th minute. From outside the box, Kim Kun-hee headed the ball to Mo Jae-hyeon, who delivered a low cross that Abudalla calmly slotted home to break the deadlock. 
Two minutes later, Gangwon sealed the game: Kim Kun-hee won an aerial duel and threaded a pass through to Kim Dae-won, who coolly finished to make it 2-0. Daejeon tried to respond, but Gangwon reinforced defense with Shin Min-ha in the 89th minute and held onto the clean sheet.
For Daejeon, the missed chances in the first half proved costly as they were outplayed by Gangwon’s aggressive pressing, suffering a second consecutive defeat.