K-League Rivals Ulsan, Jeonbuk Play to Draw to Open AFC Champions League Quarterfinals
South Korean football rivals Ulsan HD FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors played to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of the quarterfinals at the top Asian club tournament Tuesday.
The K League 1 foes traded a goal apiece in each half in their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League showdown at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, some 200 kilometers south of Seoul.
The return leg is next Tuesday at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, about 300 kilometers southeast of the capital. 에볼루션 바카라사이트
Jeonbuk only needed about three minutes to get on the board.
On a fast break opportunity, Lee Dong-jun sped down the right wing and threaded a cross to Song Min-kyu, who slotted it home past goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.
Jeonbuk wasted a chance to double their lead in the 25th minute, when Tiago Orobo’s penalty struck the crossbar.
Lee Dong-jun had drawn the spot kick after getting kicked in the ribs by defender Lee Myung-jae.
Ulsan had their first dangerous look during stoppage time, with Um Won-sang’s right-footed shot from the right side of the box was turned aside by Kim Jeong-hoon in the Jeonbuk goal.
Ulsan finally drew level in the 77th minute, with Lee Myung-jae atoning for his earlier foul.
Jeonbuk Hyundai defender Jeong Tae-wook tried to clear the loose ball out of the box but ended up sending it right to Lee, who danced past Kim Tae-hwan and found the top shelf with a right-footed shot.
Jeonbuk misfired on a couple of close-range shots, with Song sending his right-footed shot wide left in the 79th minute and then Ahn Hyun-beom airmailing a left-footed attempt some five minutes later.
These two clubs have forged an intense rivalry in the K League 1 in recent years.
From 2019 to 2021, Jeonbuk won three straight K League 1 titles with Ulsan finishing in second place each time.
Then in 2022, Ulsan won the league championship with Jeonbuk being the runner-up.
Last year, Ulsan defended their K League 1 title while Jeonbuk ended up in fourth place, their lowest placement since 2008.
The two clubs are also vying for a spot in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year.