ULSAN (Yonhap News) ― South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai Tigers were crowned the Asian football club champions Saturday after beating Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 3-0.
The new champions rejoiced after the victory at home in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers south of Seoul. It was the Korean club’s first AFC Champions League triumph in its third try.
The victory also qualified Ulsan for the FIFA Club World Cup next month in Japan, where champions of six continental football confederations plus the league winner of the host nation will collide.
Ulsan players celebrate their AFC club title on Saturday. (Yonhap News)
Ulsan didn’t lose any of the 12 games it played in the AFC Champions League this year, with 10 victories and two draws dating back to the group stage that began in March.
Winger Lee Keun-ho was named MVP of the tournament.
Captain Kwak Tae-hwi headed in the first goal early in the match, and Rafinha and midfielder Kim Seung-yong added a goal apiece in the second half, as Ulsan became the third AFC champion from the K-League in the last four years.
Kwak set the tone in the 12th minute, jumping over two Al Ahli defenders to head in a free kick by Kim Seung-yong.
Following Kwak’s goal, Ulsan players grew a bit careless on their own end and botched a few clearing attempts near the penalty area.
In the 37th, Victor Simoes had his shot from the top of the box blocked by Ulsan defenders.
Two minutes later, Motaz Al Musa stole the ball from Kwak at the top of the arc but struck the ball wide right off the goalmouth.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
