AFC Champions League: Ulsan edge past Jeonbuk, reach semis

Ulsan will face the winner from the Yokohama-Shandong match in the AFC Champions League semi-finals.

Ulsan Hyundai FC booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League for the third time in four editions after they edged domestic rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 in the second leg of their quarter-final at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on Tuesday.

After the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Jeonju last week, a Seol Young-woo volley in the dying seconds of the first half proved to be the difference this time round as Korean champions Ulsan progressed to the final four where they will face either Shandong Taishan of China PR or Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos.

Ulsan had the majority of the possession in the early stages and went close with a Lee Myung-jae free-kick in the 13th minute, but it was the visitors who created the best chances in the opening half hour.

Lee Dong-jun carried the ball forward on the right wing in a quick break for Jeonbuk in the 14th minute and crossed it in for Tiago Orobo to direct it towards goal – the Brazilian’s deft touch, however, was matched by a brilliant reflex save from Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo.

His opposite number Kim Jeong-hoon was made to work four minutes later when he denied Ulsan striker Joo Min-kyu who emerged unmarked to head a Lee Myung-jae corner on target.

Dan Petrescu’s Jeonbuk then went close again in the 28th minute as Moon Seon-min latched onto a ball over the defence from Maeng Seong-ung and went one-on-one with goalkeeper Jo, who once again saved the home side with a crucial stop.

Those misses would come back to bite Jeonbuk as two-time AFC Champions League winners Ulsan took the lead in first-half stoppage time when right-back Seol’s foray forward ended with the 25-year-old brilliantly volleying home a cross from Gustav Ludwigson to make it 1-0.

Jeonbuk came out for the second half desperate to find an equaliser and Ulsan custodian Jo had to dive low to deny Orobo’s first-time effort from the edge of the box seven minutes into the restart. But they found it difficult to create clear-cut chances against Hong Myung-bo’s side.

Jeonbuk captain Kim Jin-su floated in a cross which was headed over by Song Min-kyu in the 72nd minute, but that was the closest the visitors came to an equaliser as the 2006 and 2016 champions’ bid to win a third title was ended in the last eight.

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