Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: Goals in each half from Go Moo-yul and Lee Dong-gook handed former AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea Republic a 2-1 win over Japan’s FC Tokyo at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Tuesday’s Group E opener.
Debutant Go, who was signed from Pohang Steelers in close season, put the 2006 continental champions ahead six minutes before the break.
Veteran Lee then added a crucial second for the K-League Classic champions with seven minutes remaining before Takuma Abe quickly pulled a goal back for the visitors to ensure a tense finish.
“The first game of the season is always difficult. It was obvious that there were good things and bad things about the performance, but the important thing is that we got the three points. I stressed to the players before the game that it is crucial that we win our home games,” said Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee.
“There are still many aspects in which we can improve and gel together as a team. We have a big squad with lots of talented players on the bench and that can bring its own problems, but we have a good atmosphere in the team and we are looking forward to the challenges ahead. It is a difficult group.
“We have a good start, but there is a long way to go. We now look forward to the next game and we will prepare as well as we can for that.”
With both sides looking for a positive start in Group E, Abe had the first chance for play-off winners FC Tokyo after eight minutes as the attacker was allowed to run at the defence and his deft chip from 25 yards cleared goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae but also the Jeonbuk crossbar.
It was a cagey opening period but as the first half progressed, the hosts started to push the J.League team back and Choi Kang-hee's side were rewarded with the breakthrough courtesy of a fine team goal in the 39th minute.
Ricardo Lopes found space outside the FC Tokyo penalty area, passed to Kim Bo-kyung only to receive a smart backheel that opened up the Japanese defence and allowed the Brazilian to slip the ball through to the unmarked Go, who coolly slotted the ball across goalkeeper Yota Akimoto and into opposite corner of the goal from the top left corner of the area.
The visitors came out for the second half in determined fashion and within the first two minutes Keigo Higashi shot straight at Kwoun from the edge of the six yard area, and was almost left to rue his miss within seconds, although Kim Chang-soo shot wide for Jeonbuk from a similarly dangerous position.
FC Tokyo came even closer in the 56th minute as Takuji Yonemoto ran at the Jeonbuk defence, danced past Lim Jong-eun before unleashing a fierce shot from the edge of the area that bounced off the top of the crossbar.
AFC Champions League record goalscorer Lee came close to giving Jeonbuk a more comfortable cushion just after the hour mark, but his low shot from Go's pass just went wide of FC Tokyo's left post.
Lee went closer with eleven minutes remaining as Akimoto could only parry Kim Shin-wook's header in the direction of the striker who could not direct his reaction shot into the net from two yards out.
But it was third time lucky for Lee four minutes later as the veteran striker was found on the left side of the area by Lee Jae-sung, turned Hiroki Kawano and then curled home a delightful right-footed shot.
There was still time for Abe to break through the Jeonbuk backline to shoot past Kwoun and set up a grandstand finish, but Jeonbuk held on.
“From the start of the first half, through pressing and our tactics, we were able to nullify Jeonbuk's strengths, but then it was frustrating to make a mistake around our own penalty area. In the second half we had chances, but we lost because of more mistakes,” said FC Tokyo coach Hiroshi Jofuku.
“You can only say that Jeonbuk are a strong team with players of high quality. You can't give such players the freedom to play.
“We lost, but we will review and go forward with confidence to both the start of the J.League and the rest of the AFC Champions League. There are still five games left and a lot of football left to play.”