K League 1 leader Ulsan Hyundai conceded a late goal to lose their Asian Football Confederation Champions League away match to Kawasaki Frontale (Japan).
Head coach Hong Myung-bo conceded a 44th-minute right-footed goal to Gento Tachibana in the second leg of the 2023-2024 ACL Group I second leg at Todoroki Athletics Stadium in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on Wednesday, losing 1-0. Ulsan moved to 1-1-1 (3 points), while Kawasaki improved to 2-1-1 (6 points).
Ulsan Hyundai head coach Hong Myung-bo made a few changes to his starting lineup, considering the aftermath of the 0-0 draw against the Pohang Steelers three days earlier. He started Kim Ji-hyun up front, with Bako and Ataru Esaka on the left and right wings, respectively. Lee Dong-kyung played as a shadow striker, while Kim Min-hyuk and Lee Kyu-sung guarded the back. The back four consisted of Cho Hyun-taek, Kim Young-kwon, Kim Ki-hee, and Kim Tae-hwan. Cho Hyun-woo wore the goalkeeper’s gloves.
The same goes for Kawasaki. In their 2-3 loss to Alex Niigata last weekend, Kawasaki made six changes to their starting lineup. Most notably, he started goalkeeper Leandro Damien, who came on as a late substitute in Niigata and only played 45 minutes. In goal, former Korean national team goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong remained unchanged.
Ulsan made a number of mistakes in the early buildup that put their opponents on the back foot. Kawasaki’s Yatsuto Wakizaka, Damien, and Miki Yamane all had crucial shots on goal. However, they were either just wide of the goal or blocked by the Ulsan defense.
Outnumbered, Ulsan tried to turn the tide in the 19th minute with a sharp left-footed shot from Lee Dong-kyung.
But Kawasaki didn’t let up on the offense. Ulsan left fullback Cho Hyun-taek took advantage of a gap in the defense and kept pounding away at the back. When they did, they pressed hard and formed a tight defense, hoping to neutralize Ulsan’s buildup.
The second half was similar.
After the offense didn’t work out, Hong Myung-bo made an eight-minute change in the second half. He brought Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Dong-kyung to the bench. He brought on Hungarian striker Martin Adam and veteran midfielder Lee Chung-yong.
The two had an immediate impact. Ulsan’s ball was circulating in the opponent’s territory around Lee Cheong-yong.
In the 13th minute of the second half, Ulsan conceded a fierce counterattack from Marcinho and Damien Kawasaki on a corner kick, but the speedy Kim Tae-hwan followed them to the far post and narrowed the angle to prevent a shot.
Nine minutes later, Cho Hyun-woo saved the day. In the 21st minute of the second half, a forward pass was broken up at the back, and Damien received a one-touch pass from his teammate, beat Kim Young-kwon and found himself in the box with Cho Hyun-woo. He tried to shoot low and fast with his right foot, but Cho Hyun-woo stretched out his leg to block it.
Kawasaki made another change in the 24th minute, taking off Marcinho and bringing on Daisuke Miyashiro to boost their attack, and they had another chance five minutes later. Yatsuto beat Kim Min-hyuk in the box and unleashed a sharp left-footed shot. He headed it straight at Cho Hyun-woo and Ulsan was back in the game.메이저사이트
Ulsan made another substitution. They took off Ataru and Kim Min-hyuk and brought on Rubikson and Kim Sung-joon. Kawasaki, motivated to win three points in Anbang, responded. In the 38th minute of the second half, Kawasaki brought on big leaguer Bafetimbi Gomis in place of Yusuke Segawa.
The score remained 0-0 until the final minutes. But in the final battle of concentration, Kawasaki had the last laugh. In the 44th minute, Cho Hyun-woo’s kick was intercepted by Kawasaki at midfield. On the doorstep, Tono Taiya cut it back and Tachibanada found the back of the net with a right-footed mid-range shot.
Ulsan fought back by bringing on Lee In-gyu in the final minutes, but could not create any more shots on goal. They suffered an unfortunate defeat away to Kawasaki.