Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sangju: Kim Shin-wook scored a hat-trick as 2012 ACL quarter-finalists Ulsan Hyundai fended off a late fightback to defeat Sangju Sangmu 4-3 in Wednesday's K-League Round 29 clash.
Kim gave the visitors a sixth minute lead before Brazilian striker Rafinha (Rafael dos Santos de Oliveira) doubled Ulsan's advantage.
Ryu Chang-hyun reduced the deficit on the half-hour mark only for Kim to restore Ulsan's two-goal cushion with his second three minute from the interval.
Kim completed his hat-trick in the 71st minute as Kim Ho-gon's side went 4-1 up but goals in the 73rd and 86th minutes from midfielder Kim Jae-sung – who scored four times as Pohang Steelers claimed the 2009 ACL title – ensured a nervous finish to Ulsan's 15th win of the current K-League.
Ulsan, who are aiming to become the fourth successive ACL finalists from Korea after last year's runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers and Seongnam - ACL champions in 2006, 2009 and 2010 respectively - take on Al Hilal in the last eight of this year's edition of Asia's premier club competition.
The first-leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final will take place on September 19 with Ulsan hosting the two-time Asian Club Championship winners before the Saudis entertain the Koreans on October 3.