ULSAN (South Korea) Nov 10: South Koreans Ulsan Hyundai made the most of home advantage as they easily beat Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 3-0 in the final of the AFC Champions League on Saturday.
Captain Kwak Tae-hwi opened the scoring in the 13th minute with Brazilian forward Rafinha and midfielder Kim Seung-yong adding second-half goals as Ulsan won Asia’s premier club tournament for the first time and the tenth for a South Korean side in front of 42,000 fans.Ulsan coach Kim Ho-gon paid tribute to his team.
“The win is down to the players, it is all because of them. We told them that we needed to win the game and to treat it as a normal game. I told them to pressure the opposition from the first half and we got off to a good start.”
Ulsan started the game brightly, with Rafinha and Kwak both going close in the opening 10 minutes in what was threatening to be a one-sided affair even at such an early stage.
In the 13th minute, Ulsan claimed the lead their impressive start deserved when their big central defender Kwak ambled up from defence to meet Kim Seung-Yong’s free kick with a firm header.
Juan Estiven Velez tried his luck from long range on two occasions as Ulsan sought to extend their advantage and Al Ahli continued to struggle, but both attempts were well off target.
Al Ahli offered little serious threat in attack and, with four minutes left in the half, Kim Shin-Wook hooked his attempt wide as Ulsan sought what was turning out to be an elusive second goal.
That though changed midway through the second half when Velez’s ball was headed across goal by Kim Shin-Wook and into the path of Rafinha, who scored his fifth goal in five Champions League games since arriving from J-League side Gamba Osaka, celebrating with a ‘Gangnam style’ dance.
Al Ahli, playing their first match outside of the Middle East in this year’s tournament, looked beaten and their heads dropped as with 15 minutes to go Kim Seung-Yong added a deserved third for the dominant Ulsan when his fierce left-foot half-volley from a tight angle to the joy of the home crowd.
Ulsan collected the $1.5 million winners cheque and will now represent Asia in the FIFA Club World Cup next month in Japan where they will take on Mexican side Monterrey in the quarter-finals.
“I am really happy to get the chance to go to the Club World Cup,” said Kim. “The players are the same and we are really looking forward to it. We have had a great year in the Asian Champions League and we hope we continue that.”—Agencies