Ulsan tops Jeonbuk, advances to Asian Champions League semis

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (BNA) Ulsan Hyundai Hwang-i beat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Sunday to stay on course to win the second consecutive continental title.

Ulsan, who also won in 2012, needed extra time to beat his South Korean rival, according to the Associated Press.

The tournament’s knockout matches have been reduced to one of the usual two-legged matches due to the pandemic.

Georgian midfielder Valery Kazishvili put Ulsan ahead after 13 minutes at the World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, only for Han Kyu-won to tie with Jeonbuk, the 2006 and 2016 champions.

Just before the break, Yeon Il Lok regained Ulsan’s lead. It didn’t last long with Jeonbuk back, this time through Takahiro Kunimoto at the start of the second half.

After 101 minutes, South Korea’s international player Lee Dong-jeong hit the winner with a powerful shot from outside the area.

Ulsan faces Wednesday’s semi-final against Pohang Steelers, another South Korean rival.

Pohang, seeking to win the Asian title for the fourth time, defeated Japan’s Nagoya Grampus 3-0.

Lim Sang-hyub opened the scoring eight minutes into the second half and with 20 minutes left, Lee Seung-mo added a second. Lim’s second goal in stoppage time sealed the victory.