Ulsan will have its first match of the quarterfinals of the 2023-2024 Asian Champions League (ACL) against Jeonbuk at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium. It is the first half of the 180 minutes. Ulsan needs to gain the upper hand in this away match to lead the upcoming second round (7 p.m. on Saturday). 토토
Ulsan aims to win the ALC title for the first time in four years since 2020. It has a good start to the season. Ulsan won both matches in the round of 16 strongest teams in last month’s ALC, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals. Joo Min-kyu scored three goals in two matches, showing off his performance as the top scorer in the K-League 1 last season.
The trend continued in the opening game of the K-League 1. Ulsan sent home the Pohang Steelers on Sunday, and scored the finishing goal of Esaka at the 6th minute of the second half to win the match 1-0. The team also overwhelmed the rival team in overall shooting numbers with 11:5 on the day, effective shooting ratio with 8:3 and possession ratio with 59:41.
Ulsan aims to maintain its momentum to win three consecutive matches in the match against Jeonbuk. Ulsan and Jeonbuk will hold three “Hyundai Ga Derby” this month alone, including two matches in the ALC’s quarterfinal match and another away match in the fourth round of the K-League 1 on March 30.
Ulsan boasts a dominant record against Jeonbuk after manager Hong Myung-bo took the helm. Based on the K-League, it tied the game with one win, two draws, and one loss in the 2021 season, but it dominated the game with two wins, one draw, and one loss in the 2022 season and three wins and one loss in the 2023 season.
In particular, Seol Young-woo’s winning goal in the final home match against Jeonbuk, which was held after his fourth win in the league was confirmed on December 3 last year, capped a spectacular 1-0 finale. Eh Ulsan led Jeonbuk with 42 wins, 29 draws, and 41 losses in previous league records.
The most recent time Ulsan faced Jeonbuk in the ACL was at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium on October 17, 2021. I have good memories of winning 3 to 2 thanks to Lee Dong-kyung’s fantastic mid-range shot in the 11th minute of extra time after 120 minutes of hard work in the quarterfinals, which was a one-game match at the time.
There is one more reason why this quarterfinal is especially important. This is due to the expanded qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup. At the Club World Cup to be held in 2025, the number of participating teams will be expanded from 7 to 32 teams.
All the teams that advanced to the Continental Cup are eager to win more than ever, as they are mentioned not only the honor of competing with the world’s best teams but also the huge amount of participation money. Four tickets have been allocated to the AFC, which includes Ulsan and Jeonbuk, for the club World Cup. The winners of the past two years, Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia) and Urawa Reds (Japan), have already won the berth.
The remaining two tickets will be distributed according to performance in the ALC. Currently, various teams are competing for the remaining two tickets. Competitors Kawasaki Frontale of Japan and Pohang Steelers failed to advance to the round of 16, while Jeonbuk is eight points ahead of Ulsan with a total of 79.
However, since three points will be given for victory, one point for draw, and three points will be given to advance to the next round, the team that advances to the Club World Cup will be determined depending on the results of the quarterfinals and whether or not it will win the tournament.
In fact, it is expected that the quarterfinal stage between Ulsan and Jeonbuk will be a match to determine the owner of one of the remaining four tickets allocated to AFC.
“We are all predicting how Jeonbuk will prepare and come out. We will make higher preparations accordingly,” Hong said after the second match against Gofu.