PETALING JAYA: Ulsan Hyundai avenged last season’s defeat in the AFC Champions League (ACL) to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) after chalking up a 3-1 win over the Malaysian club in the third match of Group I at the Ulsan Munsu Stadium in South Korea.
JDT manager Esteban Solari (pic) fielded the best line-up to try to surprise the South Korean League champions but the Southern Tigers were slow to find their rhythm in the cold weather and were already down by three goals after only 18 minutes.
Team captain Jung Seung-hyun put the hosts ahead in the fifth minute off a corner kick from Swedish midfielder Gustav Erik Ludwigson.
The Swedish player continued to terrorise the JDT defence by scoring two goals in the 12th and 18th minutes.
JDT looked like they were handed a lifeline when Ulsan defender Kim Tae-hwan was shown a red card after receiving a second yellow but the score remained until the first half ended.
The few hundred JDT supporters who came to Ulsan finally had something to cheer in the 53rd minute when Bergson da Silva managed to shoot the ball past South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo for only his second goal of the season.
JDT have dropped to third place with three points while Ulsan rose to second with six points after three games. Yesterday was the second defeat for JDT in ACL this season.
JDT lost their opening match 0-1 to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in Iskandar Puteri on Sept 19 but bounced back with a 4-2 away win over Thai club BG Pathum on Oct 3.
JDT coach Esteban Solari said they were punished by Ulsan Hyundai’s set-piece strategy.
“Our concentration was affected after two goals were scored without our goalkeeper touching the ball,” said Solari.
“Anyway there are a lot of positives to take from the match.
“After going winless in four matches, winning in three goals means a lot and will put the confidence back into the team,” said Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo.
Last season, JDT won 2-1 and drew 0-0 against Ulsan when both the ACL matches were played at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.
The two teams will meet again for the fourth match of Group I at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium on Nov 7.
