It is a great disgrace to the K-League ‘Champion’.
Ulsan HD, led by head coach Kim Pan-gon, was completely defeated 0-3 in the fourth game against Johor Darlle Takjim (Malaysia), the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage, at the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Malaysia on the 5th (Korea time).
Ulsan has been mired in four consecutive ACLE matches to maintain the lowest rank. Ulsan is the only country that lost four ACLE matches. The Central Coast Mariners still have no win yet, but they had one draw and three losses (one point).
What’s more humiliating is that Ulsan has yet to score a single goal in its four ACLE matches. Ulsan had a crushing defeat at the Kawasaki Frontale (0-1 loss) match held at home, and suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat at an away match against Yokohama (Japan) in the second match. It also lost to Vissel Kobe (Japan) 0-2 at home in the third match. While it failed to score a single goal, it lost 10 points in defense, unlike in the K-League.
As the champion of the K-League, this is a result that could crumpled up a lot of pride. Of course, it is true that the away match for Johor is not easy. As the ACLE match took place just four days after the so-called championship game against Gangwon FC, there must be physical burden. However, we need to think twice about losing four consecutive games at ACLE.
Moreover, Ulsan had an opportunity to make all-out efforts in ACLE after confirming its K-League championship, but failed to make a turnaround. “It must have been a very difficult journey for the players. It was hard for us to come this far,” Kim said after the match. “We have nothing to excuse ourselves. I feel sorry for lack of goals. It is not that we did not have chances. We need to create more clear chances.” 스포츠토토
Only eight of the 12 East Asian teams are eligible to play in the tournament. Ulsan, which already has four losses, is not very strong in advancing to the tournament. Ulsan will return to Korea and play two consecutive games against ACLE Shanghai Haigang (China) and Shanghai Shenhua (China). In the meantime, it will also hold the Pohang Steelers and the Korea Cup.
“I need to study a little more. There was a tight schedule for both the league and ACLE, and there was also a variable called injured,” Kim said. “ACLE seems to have to overcome the variable. Rather than regret, I will focus on the next game. Now, I can concentrate on the next game. I will do my best to secure points and points to advance to the tournament without giving up until the end.”