Ulsan, Daegu win playoffs to earn Champions League berth

Football

Published: 16 Mar. 2022, 15:20

Ulsan, Daegu win playoffs to earn Champions League berth

Ulsan's Um Won-sang scores his team's second goal in an AFC Champions League qualifying playoff against Thai club Port F.C. at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Ulsan Hyundai and Daegu FC both won their AFC Champions League qualifying playoffs on Tuesday, ensuring that four Korean teams will compete when the continental tournament kicks off next month.

K League leaders Ulsan took a comfortable 3-0 victory over Thai club Port F.C. at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan to secure their spot at the Champions League.

Choi Gi-sun opened the scoring for the Korean side in the 13th minute, but it wasn't until the final 10 minutes of the game that Korea was able to build on that lead. Um Won-sang, who came on as a substitute in the second half, added goal No. 2 in the 82nd minute, before Leo Souza hammered home a penalty in the 88th minute.

Ulsan's victory came in the middle of a Covid-19 outbreak that has crippled the club, with up to 10 players reportedly contracting the virus. Despite the rash of infections, the club was still able to field enough players to take on Port F.C., although they were a long way from operating at full strength.

With the win, Ulsan earn a spot in the tough Group H at the Champions League, alongside Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale, China's Guangzhou and Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta'zim.

Daegu FC had a surprisingly difficult time against Thai club Buriram United, coming perilously close to losing their spot at the Champions League as Buriram managed to draw first blood after 119 minutes of scoreless football.

Having played through full time and the vast majority of extra time without a goal, Buriram's Jonathan Bolingi put the Thai side ahead one minute before the end of the game, only for Daegu's Cesinha to manage to tie the score in injury time.

Daegu FC's Cesinha, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a last-minute equalizer against Thai club Buriram United in an AFC Champions League qualifying playoff at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the game went to a penalty shootout. Daegu won the shootout 3-2 to earn their spot at the Champions League.

Daegu will compete in Group F alongside Chinese double winners Shandong Taishan, Japan's Emperor's Cup winners Urawa Red Dragons and Singaporean league champion Lion City Sailors.

Ulsan and Daegu join Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the Jeonnam Dragons in the Champions League, ensuring that Korea filled all of its possible four spots in the continental tournament. Jeonbuk earned their spot as the 2021 K League champions, with Jeonnam competing as the 2021 FA Cup champions.

Ulsan and Daegu were able to compete in the playoffs as the second- and third-place teams from the 2021 K League.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were drawn in Group H alongside Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos, Vietnamese club Hoang Anh Gia Lai and an as-yet-undetermined playoff winner.

The draw gives Jeonbuk some tough competition in the form of J League runner-up Yokohama. The two clubs have recent Champions League history, having both been drawn in Group H in 2020. Yokohama won both games on that occasion — 2-1, 4-1, to top the group — while Jeonbuk failed to advance.

K League 2 club Jeonnam face a far easier group stage in Group G alongside Thai side BG Pathum, United City of the Philippines and Melbourne City of Australia.

Both BG Pathum and United City have more recent Champions League experience than Jeonnam, who haven't qualified for the continental tournament since 2008.

BG Pathum last year competed in Group F alongside Ulsan Hyundai, losing both games to the Korean side 2-0. The Thai club still progressed to the knockout stage, losing 4-2 to Jeonbuk on penalties.

United City were drawn in Group I last year alongside Daegu FC, losing both games to the Korean club by significant margins: 7-0, 4-0.

The AFC Champions League is divided into an eastern and western tournament that only come together for the final. Groups A to E are part of the Champions League West competition, with Groups F to J in the Champions League East competition.

The top team from each group advances to the knockout stage, as well as the three best runner-up teams from both the East and West tournaments. The Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals are played between teams from each side of the bracket, with the final then pitching the best team from East and West against each other.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]