Daegu win 7-0 over Shandong Taishan
In the first match of the 2022 Asian Football Federation (AFC) Champions League, Ulsan, the leader of the professional soccer K League 1 (1st division), was unable to decide on a match against Japan’s J1 (1st division) leader Kawasaki.
Ulsan drew 1-1 with Kawasaki in the first match of Group I held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on the 15th. Both teams are currently the best teams in Korea and Japan, and they gathered a lot of attention even before the match. Ulsan is the only undefeated team in K League 1 this season. 7 wins, 2 draws (23 points) in 9 matches. He also has a lot of Champions League experience. They won the titles in 2012 and 2020. Kawasaki also has no match in the J1 League this season. They are leading the way with 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses (20 points) in 10 matches. They lifted the J1 League title for the past two seasons in a row, including 2017 and 2018.
Ulsan are undefeated in 5 consecutive matches (3 wins, 2 draws) against Kawasaki in the past 5 years. In the group stage in 2018 and 2019, they were ahead with 1 win and 1 draw respectively. After meeting in the round of 16 last year and drawing a 0-0 draw, they won 3-2 on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo’s save and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Ulsan missed the match they won at the last minute. Ulsan boosted momentum in the 21st minute when Leonardo opened the goal for Kawasaki, guarded by goalkeeper Jeong Seong-ryong from the Korean national team. However, as of the 49th minute, just before the end of the second half, Kawasaki’s Shintaro Kurumaya volleyed a volley that the national team goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo missed while trying to catch a corner kick to equalize.
Group F Daegu won their first match against Shandong Taishan (China) by 7-0, showing their top-notch performance. Daegu’s Jeka scored a hat-trick.
Reporter Won-hong Lee [email protected]