Ulsan Hyundai’s coach, Hong Myung-bo, considers his team to be unlucky after losing to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the AFC Champions League (ACL) group stage match at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium recently.
According to Myung-bo, he acknowledges that his team made some mistakes that allowed the opposing team to score the winning goal, but he is still proud of the performance displayed by the players.
“Playing at the opponent’s stadium (SSI), we gave our best effort, but luck was not on Ulsan’s side today. I am still grateful to all the players because they made some of their best attempts in yesterday’s intense match,” said Hong Myung-bo according to the Flash Sukan report.
Defeated in the recent match in South Korea, Esteban Solari’s team showed great determination to chase victory in front of their home fans. Heberty Fernandes scored the opening goal in the 44th minute with a successful left-footed strike that beat Ulsan Hyundai’s goalkeeper, Jo Hyeon-woo, putting the home team in the lead.
Not wanting to be continuously pressured by the home team, Ulsan Hyundai intensified their efforts to equalize. Their efforts paid off in the 69th minute when Valeri Qazaishvili’s pass was expertly finished by Ataru Esaka, making it 1-1.
Ulsan had two golden opportunities in the 80th and 86th minutes through attempts by Qazaishvili and Martin Adam, but Ahmad Syihan Hazmi excelled in denying both dangerous attempts.
Akhyar Rashid repaid the trust given by Solari by scoring in the 85th minute after the winger seized an opportunity to secure the winning goal for JDT.
The result remained 2-1 until the end of the game, allowing JDT to now be tied with Ulsan Hyundai at six points. The South Korean representatives, however, are in second place due to goal difference. The top spot is still held by the Japanese club, Kawasaki Frontale, with 12 points following a perfect record of four wins.
(Source credit: VocketFC, FlashSukan)
Credit Photo : Hong Zhenglim/SNE-Photo
