SEOUL, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors knocked off their domestic rivals Pohang Steelers to reach the quarterfinals of the top Asian club football tournament Tuesday.
Jeonbuk played Pohang to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the round of 16 at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, 260 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Jeonbuk advanced to the last eight thanks to their 3-1 win on aggregate.
Jeonbuk had taken the opening leg 2-0 last week.
In the quarterfinals scheduled for March, Jeonbuk could face another K League 1 club. They will meet the winner of the round of 16 series between Ulsan HD FC, the two-time defending K League 1 champions, and the Japanese team Ventforet Kofu.
Ulsan won the first leg 3-0 last week and will look to close out Ventforet in the return leg kicking off at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Tokyo.
Needing to win by three goals on this rainy Tuesday evening, Pohang were the more determined side early on. They broke the ice a dozen minutes in, as Park Chan-yo
ng scored with a long-range strike that fooled goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon.
Pohang came close to doubling their lead late in the first half, with Lee Ho-jae striking the right goal post after taking a pass from Jorge Luiz.
Jeonbuk dashed Pohang’s hopes of a comeback when Jeong Tae-wook headed in the equalizer in the 76th minute.
Pohang now needed two more goals just to force extra time and couldn’t muster up any more offense
Jeonbuk are trying to win their third AFC Champions League title.
Source: Yonhap News Agency
