Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor advanced to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the fifth consecutive season ahead of former champions Pohang Steelers after Anvar Gafurov's header at the start of the second half proved the difference between the two sides on Wednesday.
Bunyodkor knew they had to claim a third win of the campaign to overhaul Pohang's two-point advantage in Group E and Gafurov's 48th minute goal at Jar Stadium was enough to end the hopes of the three-time Asian champions.
And after securing a second-place finish behind Australia's Adelaide United in Group E, Bunyodkor will face 2010 AFC Champions League winners Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the one-off Round of 16 on May 29 after the K-League side won Group G with an unbeaten record.
"It was a very hard game. I am happy we could win and solve the problem," said Bunyodkor coach Mirdjalal Kasimov.
"The price of one mistake is high, but fortunately we didn't make mistakes. Both teams had a chance, but luck smiled on us."
With victory the only option, the home side made a bright start and were unlucky not to be ahead after 31 minutes as Bunyodkor captain Victor Karpenko rattled Shin Hwa-yong's crossbar with a left-footed strike.
And four minutes before half-time Bunyodkor again beat Shin but not the woodwork as Kamoliddin Murzoev's header from Akmal Shorakhmedov's cross came back off the crossbar to leave the sides level at the break and Pohang on course for the last 16 for the third time in four years.
But just three minutes after the restart Bunyodkor finally found the crucial breakthrough as Shorakhmedov combined with Jan Kozak and the Slovak midfielder crossed for Gafurov to direct his header into the opposite corner.
Pohang stepped up the pressure in the second half in search of the goal to get themselves back into the contest and the last 16, but Bunyodkor's rearguard stood firm.
"I am not happy with the result. Both teams tried to achieve a good result, but the first goal proved the difference," said Pohang coach Hwang Sun-hong, who won the Asian Club Championship twice with Pohang as a player in 1997 and 1998.
"We could not reach our full potential as it was a long flight to Tashkent and also the hot weather affected us."