Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Suwon Samsung Bluewings earned a play-off berth for the 2018 AFC Champions League by finishing third in the Korea Republic's K League Classic on Sunday.
Suwon grabbed a play-off spot in the 2018 AFC Champions League on the last day of the 2017 K League Classic season, thanks to their 3-2 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
Brazilian forward Santos scored twice in the second half to lead his club past the league champions.
The latest result gave Suwon 64 points on 17 wins, 13 draws and eight losses, making them third best among 12 clubs.
Suwon had two more points than Ulsan Hyundai, who beat Gangwon FC 2-1 on Sunday.
Korea Republic has 3.5 slots for the AFC Champions League.
The top two teams from the first division Classic directly advance to the group stage of the continent's premier tournament along with the winner of the Korea Football Association (FA) Cup. The third-place team in the Classic must win a play-off match to join them.
The top two teams had long been confirmed before the league had its last matches.
Jeonbuk were declared the 2017 season champions last month, while Jeju United secured their runners-up position two weeks ago.
Jeonbuk finished the season with 75 points from 22 wins, nine draws and seven losses -- nine points more than Jeju.
Although Ulsan failed to win the No 3 spot in the league, they still have a chance to qualify for the ACL.
They are in the FA Cup final, and a win over second division club Busan IPark will give them an ACL berth.
The reigning Classic champions FC Seoul finished fifth with 61 points, 12 points ahead Gangwon.
Sources: Korea Football Association,Yonhap