Jeonbuk Hyundai is undefeated in the AFC Champions League. yunhap news
Jeonbuk Hyundai, representing Korea with 5 consecutive K League 1 wins, is turning a thorny road into a flower road in the tournament to determine the strongest Asian club soccer player.
Jeonbuk defeated Yokohama Marinos (Japan) 1-0 in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) East Asia Group H Group 2 Game 2 held at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on the 19th (Korean time).
They were tied in Group H with Sydney FC (Australia), Yokohama Marinos, and Hoang Ain Jalai (Vietnam), and difficulties were expected, but they are doing well with 1 win and 1 draw.
Jeonbuk, which went straight to the ACL group stage with the K-League 1 win last season, is challenging for the third championship in its career. The last time Jeonbuk lifted the ACL trophy was in 2016.
In particular, last year, Jeonbuk lost 2-1 to Ulsan Hyundai in the quarterfinals of the ACL at home. After a bloody battle that went all the way to overtime, he missed out on a ticket to the semifinals. He defeated Ulsan in the 2021 K League 1 to win the championship, but his thirst for the ACL might not be quenched.
In fact, in the 2022 ACL group stage draw, Jeonbuk was tied with relatively strong teams, unlike Ulsan, Daegu FC, and Jeonnam Dragons, who participated in the ACL. Yokohama, who placed 2nd in the J-League last year, belonged to the same group in the ACL last year and lost both times.
After that, March was like a nightmare for Jeonbuk. Jeonbuk, which has lost three consecutive K League 1 losses, has fallen to the bottom. In the last match in March, he made a one-on-one draw with Kim Cheon Sangmu, putting the fire out in a hurry.
But April was the month of Jeonbuk. Gangwon FC, Suwon Samsung, and Seongnam FC were beaten in a row to win 3 straight wins. The last game in Seongnam was more important because it was the game just before leaving for the ACL.
In the Battle of Seongnam, Jeonbuk exploded the firepower it had endured. With multi-goals from Gustavo, Barlow and Ilyuchenko, Jeonbuk was completely revived and jumped to 4th place in the league at once. In particular, it was encouraging that the team’s goalkeeper Ilyuchenko tasted the goal.
The upward trend continued in the ACL as well. It was disappointing to draw in the first leg with Sydney FC, but Jeonbuk (4 points), who defeated the difficult enemy Yokohama, moved up to the top spot in Group H.
It is an unbeaten streak of 6 matches including the league. Ilyuchenko also succeeded in taking a penalty kick once morest Yokohama, continuing his senses.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Director Kim Sang-sik. Provided by Jeonbuk Hyundai
The prospects for the next game are good. Jeonbuk will play the third and fourth game once morest Hoang Ain Jalai, the bottom of the group. At 8 pm on the 22nd and 11 pm on the 25th, both will clash at the Tongnat Stadium.
If Jeonbuk catches both games in a row, a green light will come on for advancing to the round of 16. In a schedule of 6 games per team, the top team in each group advances directly to the round of 16. Even if they place 2nd, the top 3 teams out of 2nd place in 5 groups will also advance to the round of 16.
ACL’s performance might also affect the league’s resumption in May. Unlike the other three K-League teams that have advanced to the ACL, Jeonbuk plays games one day late. Conversely, following the group stage is over, the first league match must be played once morest FC Seoul at 2 pm on the 5th. The ACL puts a strain on stamina, but it can be offset by the atmosphere.
Jeonbuk coach Kim Sang-sik said at an official press conference following the second game, “We participated in the ACL as champions of the K-League, and we need to win once morest teams in the same group to advance to the next round, so we will prepare to win the remaining matches.” He said he had strong ambitions.