Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Jeonju: Coach Hwang Sun-hong expressed pride in his Pohang Steelers team after their 2-1 away victory against fellow K-League Classic side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, but he warned his players that the job is only half done with the second leg at The Steelyard in Pohang still to come next week.
After a goalless first half in Jeonju, Jeonbuk took the lead through a header from Lee Jae-sung on 53 minutes after an assist from Brazilian forward Leonardo.
But Hwang’s side replied with an equaliser just five minutes later from Son Jun-ho after Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae failed to keep out the midfielder’s powerful near-post strike.
And with 17 minutes of the tie remaining, the visitors’ forward Go Moo-yul netted after being played in by defender Park Hee-chul to take a goal advantage and the additional bonus of two priceless away goals into the second leg in Pohang.
“Our players overcame a lot of physical difficulty today – I’m proud of them,” said coach Hwang, who had in the build-up to the tie in Jeonju spoken about the importance of victory in the first leg.
However, despite the positive result, the K League Classic winning-coach urged his charges to maintain their level of performance with the second leg to come and the outcome still in the balance.
“But we have to keep in mind that we only won half of the game today. We must win another half next week in Pohang. We'll stay focused,” added the 45-year-old.
The victory means that Pohang have now secured two wins in Jeonju over Jeonbuk after the K-League Classic champions defeated Cho Kang-hee’s side3-1 in March in their domestic league fixture.
And should they best the 2006 AFC Champions League winners next week on home soil, Pohang will advance to the quarter-final stage of the continental competition for the sixth time in their quest for a record fourth Asian title.