Lee Dong-gyeong of Ulsan HD FC celebrates after scoring a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos during the first leg of the semifinals at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on April 17, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Having bagged a crucial win at home, South Korean champions Ulsan HD FC will now visit Japanese foes Yokohama F. Marinos this week as they chase their first Asian club football title in four years.
Ulsan and Yokohama will square off in the second leg of the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan.
Ulsan won the opening leg last week at home by 1-0, with midfielder Lee Dong-gyeong’s 19th-minute goal providing the difference.
Ulsan just need to avoid a loss Wednesday, and they will punch their ticket to the two-legged final next month. The away goals rule is no longer in effect, and extra time and a penalty shootout will be used to determine the winner if necessary.
For the knockouts, teams have been split into East and West regions. Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates defeated Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia 4-2 in the first leg of the semifinals in the West Region last week, with their return leg set for Tuesday night in Riyadh.
Ulsan have won two AFC Champions League titles, most recently in 2020, when they defeated the Iranian side Persepolis 2-1 in the one-and-done final match.
Ulsan HD FC head coach Hong Myung-bo gives a thumbs-up during the first leg of the semifinals at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League against Yokohama F. Marinos at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on April 17, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
They have since collected two domestic trophies, winning the K League 1 titles in 2022 and 2023. And their “three-peat” bid is off to a solid start this year, as they rank third with 14 points, three back of the league-leading Pohang Steelers but with one match in hand. Ulsan lead all clubs with 16 goals in seven matches.
Lee Dong-gyeong has been involved in 10 of those goals, with six goals and a league-best four assists. He was the lone goal scorer in last week’s win, and Ulsan will look to other attackers to step up their game.
Forward Joo Min-kyu netted three goals in the round of 16 but has been held off the scoresheet since. The two-time K League 1 scoring champion is a threat to go off at any moment, though.
Ulsan’s Hungarian forward Martin Adam leads Ulsan with five goals for this year’s Champions League, but all five came during the group stage.
At the other end, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo has been sharp in the knockout stage, having conceded only two goals in five matches.
(Yonhap)
