Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kawasaki: Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale booked their place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2009 after recording a 3-1 victory over Ulsan Hyundai at Kawasaki Todoraki Stadium on Tuesday which eliminated the former winners.
The home side had needed at worst a draw to guarantee second place in Group H with 2012 champions Ulsan requiring a win to take the place in the Round of 16 for themselves, but it was Kawasaki who took the lead on 31 minutes through Yu Kobayashi.
Two more goals swiftly followed with Yoshito Okubo doubling Kawasaki’s lead on 34 minutes before Rafinha pulled one back for the visitors two minutes later.
And although Korea Republic’s Ulsan pushed for an equaliser in the second half, it was Kawasaki who scored the game’s final goal through defender Jeci with 13 minutes remaining.
But with Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers securing a convincing 5-0 victory over China’s Guizhou Renhe to top the table on goal difference, Kawasaki will face the winner of Group F in May’s Round of 16.
Cheered on by a packed Todoraki Stadium, it took just seven minutes for the home team to carve out an opportunity on goal when the hugely influential Kawasaki captain Kengo Nakamura put Kobayashi through on goal only for the forward to screw his shot across the face of the Ulsan goal from close range.
And on 19 minutes Renato went even closer as his low shot from the cusp of the penalty area crashed against the foot of the upright with Kim Seung-gyu beaten but alert enough to get into position to deny the Brazilian on the follow-up.
The visitors had their first clear opportunity on goal after 25 minutes as Kawasaki’s Brazilian defender Jeci was forced to clear off the line from countryman Rafinha’s sliding effort that looped over Yohei Nishibe and threatened to dip in under the crossbar.
And Ulsan increased the pressure on the J-League side’s goal as forward Yoo Jun-soo went close three minutes later with a header from Lee Yong’s cross that had Nishibe scrambling to his right to force the ball wide.
But Ulsan’s prolificacy was made to pay a minute past the half hour as Nakamura found Kobayashi on the left edge of the penalty area and the forward cut inside to whip a curling right-footed shot low into the bottom right-hand corner of Kim’s goal to open the scoring.
And just three minutes later Okubo doubled the advantage after he was played through on the right hand side of the penalty area by Kentaro Moriya and drove his shot across Kim and into the far corner.
But with barely time to draw breath, Ulsan reduced the deficit through Rafinha as the overlapping Lee fired in a low cross from the right flank that evaded a crowd of players before being turned in by the Brazilian.
Five minutes before the interval a sumptuous through ball from Nakamura picked out Renato breaking through on goal. but the Ulsan goalkeeper frustrated him once again with a block with his feet.
Shortly after the restart, Okubo went close to his second as an impudent back-heel flick by Renato put the striker through on goal only for his effort to fall inches wide of the Ulsan goal.
With time running out for his Ulsan side, coach Cho Min-kook threw on another striker in the form of Han Sang-woon midway through the second half as Kawasaki began to sit deep to protect their lead.
The main outlet for the home side was the dangerous Renato and on 70 minutes he tricked his way past Lee but was yet again denied by Kim who palmed the fierce shot over the crossbar.
But seven minutes later the Ulsan custodian was rooted to his spot as Kawasaki scored their third as Nakamura’s corner was powerfully headed home by Jeci, who rose highest in the penalty area to direct his effort into the bottom left-hand corner.