Ulsan Hyundai FC head coach Kim Pan-gon expressed his disappointment after his team fell 3-0 to Johor Darul Ta’Zim in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 League Stage(East Zone) match at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri last night.
The win marked JDT’s second ACLE victory, propelling them to a stronger position with improved prospects for the knockout stage. At the same time, Ulsan HD now faces an uphill battle after four consecutive defeats.
Pan-gon acknowledged the quality of JDT, crediting their strength for the Korean champions’ defeat.
“I am very disappointed with this loss, especially for our Ulsan HD supporters. This match was exceptionally challenging,” he shared.
The absence of two pivotal players, Lee Myeong-jae and Ko Seung-beom, both sidelined due to injury, was noted by Pan-gon as a setback in his game plan, impacting Ulsan’s ability to field their best lineup.
The Korean side struggled to find their rhythm from the outset, conceding an early goal in the 8th minute to JDT’s Arif Aiman. The loss leaves Ulsan HD in a precarious position in the group stage, making their path to the next round difficult.
JDT will next face Shandong Taishan on November 26, while Ulsan HD prepares to host Shanghai Port in a critical matchup for their ACLE campaign.
Credit Photo : AFC
