Incheon stun Yokohama F. Marinos to kick off AFC Champions League

Football

Published: 20 Sep. 2023, 14:54 Updated: 20 Sep. 2023, 19:42

Incheon stun Yokohama F. Marinos to kick off AFC Champions League

Incheon United defender Kim Yeon-soo, left, vies for the ball with Yokohama F. Marinos forward Ryo Miyaichi during an AFC Champions League Group G match at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on Tuesday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Incheon United beat the Yokohama F. Marinos 4-2 Tuesday to kick off their first AFC Champions League campaign, with Ulsan Hyundai also grabbing a 3-1 win against BG Pathum United on the same night.

Incheon played their first-ever Champions League match at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan and got off to a smooth start thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Jun Ichimori, who failed to clear the ball from a cross.

A series of goals then followed from both sides, with the Marinos equalizing in the 17th minute with Takuma Nishimura’s header and Incheon pulling ahead again with a goal from Gerso Fernandes. The first half ended at 2-2 after Ryo Miyaichi’s header tied things up again.

Both sides’ continued to create multiple chances in the second half and Incheon made it 3-2 in the 75th minute with Hernandes Rodrigues slotting in the ball from a counter attack.

Incheon seemed to find their feet, and Rodrigues added a second in the 79th minute, ending the match at 4-2 and marking the club's first-ever Champions League victory.

The win also put Incheon at the top of Group G, with Shandong Taishan from China in second, the Marinos in third and Kaya FC from the Philippines in fourth.

Over in Ulsan, K League leaders Ulsan took on Pathum and Martin Adam was the hero of the night. After Adam’s first goal in the 28th minute, Ryhan Stewart equalized to end the first half at 1-1.

Ulsan Hyundai's Martin Adam, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during an AFC Champions League Group I match against BG Pathum United at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan in a photo shared on Ulsan's official Facebook account on Tuesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Adam shone alone in the second half, making it 2-1 in the 73th minute before completing his hat-trick in the 78th minute to seal a 3-1 win.

Ulsan also topped Group I after the victory. They will be back in Champions League action on Oct. 3 when they take on Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

Incheon will also play on the same day against Kaya at home.

Two other K League teams — the Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — are also competing in this year’s Champions League. The two were due to face Hanoi FC from Vietnam and Kitchee SC from Hong Kong respectively later in the evening on Wednesday as of press time.

This year may be a chance for Korea to extend their dominance in the tournament. They have produced the most winners, at 12, with two-time winner Ulsan being the last Korean side to claim the title in 2020.

The Steelers have won the title three times, while Jeonbuk secured it twice.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]