Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coach Choi Kang-hee talked up his side’s tactics after a 1-0 away victory over Chinese Super League outfit Beijing Guoan in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday secured a 2-1 aggregate victory as the Koreans returned to the last eight of the continental competition for the first time since 2011.
After a 1-1 draw in last week’s last 16 first leg in Jeonju, Brazilian substitute Edu scored the only goal of the game with 18 minutes remaining to claim a deserved win for the K-League Classic leaders, who went into the game needing to score to avoid being eliminated at the last 16 stage for the third successive season.
The 2006 winners will now take their place in the quarter-final draw on June 18 as they aim to advance to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League for the fourth time in their history.
Match report: Beijing Guoan 0-1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (agg 1-2)
“It is always difficult when playing away. In the first half we focused on attacking, but we expected the goals to come in the second half. The entire process had been foreseen by us,” said Choi.
“In the first game we scored first, that was why we were conservative in the second half of that game. But today we had nothing to lose; we had to score, so in the second half my players stuck to my tactics to attack.”
The hosts began the brighter of the teams but created little by way of clear-cut chances, although Choi’s side soon took control of the game and should have taken the lead midway through the first half when the unmarked Lee Dong-gook fired over from 12 yards.
But the Koreans went in front in the 72nd minute when striker Edu slid home from inside the penalty area after being played in by Lee Jae-sung to eliminate Beijing, who had captain Zhou Ting sent-off for a straight red card in stoppage-time.
“I don’t think Beijing were conservative or passive in the second 45 minutes, they were well balanced and their tactics were decent,” added Jeonbuk coach Choi.
“But now we have achieved our target of qualifying for the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. No matter who our next opponent is we will try to go as far as we can.
“If I had to name players, Edu was our best attacker and Kim-Hyung-il was our best defender.”
Photo: WSG