AFC Champions League: Group F: Late show seals Ulsan Hyundai AFC Champions League points against Viettel FC
Bangkok: Ulsan Hyundai scored in the final seconds as the defending AFC Champions League winners edged Vietnam’s Viettel FC 1-0 in their opening 2021 AFC Champions League Group G match at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Saturday.
Lukas Hinterseer forced the ball with a backheel through Viettel’s Nguyen Thanh Binh’s legs as Ulsan carved out the narrow win, with Thailand’s BG Pathum United taking the early lead in the standings on goal difference after beating Kaya FC-Iloilo 4-1 in the group’s earlier match on Saturday.
Ulsan were on the attacking foot from the referee’s first blow of the whistle and looked to have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Kim Min-jun slotted home from close range, only to be judged offside.
Although Viettel played mainly within their own half, they were able to keep up with the pace of the K League club and even had a few promising runs of their own with Caique forcing Ulsan goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo into his first save in the 19th minute.
Kim In-sung played a huge role in Ulsan’s attacking threat with his crosses from the left flank into the area, but the disciplined Viettel defenders were on their toes to ward off any danger.
The Vietnamese champions grew in confidence with every passing minute, but took most of their attempts from range which hardly troubled goalkeeper Jo, while Ulsan also wasted opportunities of their own and they should have scored in the 38th minute when Kim Sung-joon was left unmarked on the edge of the box, only to see his effort miss by inches.
Both teams, however, came close just after the hour-mark with Truong Van Thiet rising highest to head Nguyen Hoang Duc’s cross with no reward, before Lee sent his shot wide in the 67th minute.
There was to be late drama though as the ball landed nicely for Hinterseer, who forced the ball into the net despite his back being against the goalmouth to seal the points for Ulsan Hyundai.
