Daegu FC beats Ulsan to win Korean FA Cup

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Daegu FC beats Ulsan to win Korean FA Cup

Published: 09 Dec. 2018, 19:45

DAEGU - Daegu FC won the 2018 Korea Football Association (FA) Cup on Saturday after edging Ulsan Hyundai FC 5-1 on aggregate.

Daegu FC head coach Andre Luiz Alves Santos, center, lifts the Korea Football Association Cup champions’ trophy after his side beat Ulsan Hyundai FC 5-1 on aggregate to claim the title at Daegu Stadium in Daegu on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Daegu beat Ulsan 3-0 in the second leg of the FA Cup final at Daegu Stadium in Daegu after they hit the net three times in the second half. It was a perfect result for Daegu, who had won the first leg 2-1 at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Wednesday.

For Daegu, who finished seventh in the K League 1, the FA Cup title is their first trophy in franchise history.

Daegu, led by Brazilian head coach Andre Luiz Alves Santos, commonly known as Andre, will now make their first appearance in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL). They will be in Group F, facing Chinese Super League runners-up Guangzhou Evergrande, Australian A-League winners Melbourne Victory and a playoff winner.

Ulsan, managed by head coach Kim Do-hoon, were hoping to defend their FA Cup title. They secured a playoff spot in the 2019 ACL by finishing third in the K League 1 this season but could have advanced directly to the group stage with FA Cup win.

Ulsan nearly drew first blood in the ninth minute when Han Seung-gyu, who was recently named the K League 1 Young Player of the Year, fired a right-footed shot in the box. However, his attempt was blocked by Daegu goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

Daegu’s Brazilian striker Edgar Bruno da Silva, known simply as Edgar, was the first one to find the net in the 14th. However, his goal was disallowed for a foul on Ulsan defender Richard Windbichler.

Edgar had another promising chance in the 26th, but his curling right-footed effort was denied by Ulsan goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae, who was last year’s FA Cup MVP.

After finishing scoreless in the first half, Daegu went up on the scoreboard with Kim Dae-won’s strike in the 59th. Following a bad clearance from Ulsan’s Lee Chang-yong, Kim blasted a left-footed shot to grab a 1-0 lead.

Cesinha then doubled the lead for the hosts in the 76th. Ulsan midfielder Park Yong-woo failed to control a goal kick from Jo and the ball went to Cesinha, who easily hit the net with his right foot.

Desperate for goals, Ulsan pushed forward and had an opportunity to cut the deficit to one in the 81st. But Kim In-sung’s effort was denied by Jo.

Edgar stepped up to seal the victory for Daegu at the last moment. The 31-year-old Brazilian striker dribbled past Park and chipped the ball home from a tight angle in the 89th.

Yonhap