Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Ulsan Hyundai to meet Al Ahli in ACL final
Ulsan Hyundai manager Kim Ho-gon speaks at a press conference in Ulsan, Friday. / Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Ulsan Hyundai will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in the Asian Champions League (ACL) final today in a bid to earn the honor of becoming Asia’s best football club as well as the $1.5-million (1.6 billion won) prize money.
The game will be at Ulsan’s Munsu Football Stadium, giving the Korean side the advantage of home support.
They have reached the final with nine wins and two draws and are on an eight-win streak, whereas Al Ahli had five wins, three draws and three losses.
Ulsan strikers Lee Keun-ho and Kim Shin-wook have scored a combined 10 goals in the competition. Lee has played a key role in leading the team not only by netting four times but also by producing six assists. Brazilian forward Rafinha has provided effective support, scoring four times. Their firepower is expected to worry the Saudi side’s defense.
“We played Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad previously. Based on our analysis, Al Ahli has a similar style,” Ulsan Hyundai manager Kim Ho-gon said at Friday's media conference. “We will actively seek to score with the belief that offense is the best defense.”
Ulsan has no injury or suspension worries while Al Ahli will be without key defender Mansour Al-Harbi after he was sent off in the second leg of their semifinal against another Saudi club, Al Ittihad.
Ulsan has never been to the ACL final but Korean clubs won the tournament two of the previous three years. The Pohang Steelers defeated Al Ittihad in the 2009 final and the Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma were victorious in 2010. Last year, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors just missed out, losing to Al-Sadd of Qatar in a penalty shootout. Al Ahli made the final in 1986 but lost to Korea’s Daewoo Royals.
The Saudi’s have performed poorly away from home in the ACL this season losing three and drawing twice on the road.
This year’s final will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
“We have made it here after some tough games,” Kim said. “We will win the match as representatives of Korean football.”