Ulsan Hyundai manager Hong Myung-bo speaks during a press conference at Hyundai Hotel in Ulsan, Sept. 18. Yonhap
South Korea’s love affair with the Asian Champions League seems to be as passionate as ever. Teams from the K-League have lifted the crown a record 12 times. Japan comes next with eight and Saudi Arabia comes in third with six. The haul has been spread around a number of Korean clubs all lifting the trophy over the years: Suwon Bluewings, Pohang Steelers, Ulsan Horangi, Seongnam, Jeonbuk Motors and Busan I’Park.
It is a hugely impressive record and one that is not always appreciated in the country. Everyone around the continent knows that Korean teams can never be written off. There is always at least one that is a serious contender.
Perhaps it felt a little different this year. Saudi Arabian clubs have been making waves and headlines with hundreds of millions spent on superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema. The likes of Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad were forces to be reckoned with even before this new level of transfer activity.
Yet the tournament has started with a bang for the representatives from the Land of the Morning Calm. The most impressive result was the first one. Yokohama F.Marinos is the champion of Japan, home to what is probably the strongest league in Asia in terms of depth of quality even if Saudi Arabian fans would have something to say about that.
Incheon, by contrast, had never appeared at the tournament before simply because the team has spent more time fighting relegation to the second tier. Last season United finished fourth, the team’s best placing since 2005. The reward was one of the toughest trips possible.
Yet at the Yokohama International Stadium, Incheon won 4-2 in what was a stunning result. At half-time, it was level at 2-2 but two goals in quick succession from Brazilian attacker Hernandes gave Incheon a famous win. There are still five games in the group remaining and still a long way to go but the start could not have been better.
Jeonbuk Motors defeated Kitchee of Hong Kong 2-1, a less spectacular victory but an important start. Jeonbuk is a team that always has ambitions of going all the way to winning a third title just like it almost did last season in reaching the semifinal and losing to eventual winner Urawa Reds of Japan after a penalty shootout.
Ulsan Horangi is the last Korean team to lift the trophy with the triumph in 2020 and is the current champion of the K-League. A 3-1 win over BG Pathum United of Thailand at home was not in any way a shock result but sets the Tigers up for the challenges ahead and especially the next trip, a tough one to Japan and Kawasaki Frontale.
That left Pohang Steelers, the most successful Korean team in Asia with three wins. The Steelers had a potentially tricky trip to Vietnam to face Hanoi FC but made short work of it and were soon 4-0 ahead and ended up with a 4-2 victory.
There is still a long way to go but the start is literally perfect. K-League teams generally like playing in Asia and fans will be hoping that this continues for some time to come.
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