DOHA (Qatar): Yoon Bit-garam struck once in each half to send Ulsan Hyundai through to the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League with a 2-1 win over FC Tokyo on Monday.
Kensuke Nagai’s srike put Tokyo ahead in the opening minute, but Yoon levelled the tie with a sublime free-kick on the stroke of half-time, then added an 85th-minute winner as Ulsan provided late fireworks for the third time in a week.
FC Tokyo will have it all to play for in their final group match against Perth Glory on Thursday, while Ulsan will face Shanghai Shenhua.
In another match, Beijing Guoan maintained their unbeaten run with their fifth consecutive win in Group E, easing past FC Seoul 3-1.
With 13 points from five matches, Ulsan cannot be caught at the top of the group standings, but FC Tokyo, on seven, find themselves in a precarious position, with the Japanese club now sweating on the result between Perth Glory and Shanghai Shenhua to see if they will retain second place on the table going into Thursday’s final Matchday.
Tokyo’s instant breakthrough came from a seemingly harmless foray forward, with Shuto Abe’s pass opening up a passage of space for Nagai, who sent a measured low shot just out of the reach of Jo Su-huk and into the back of the net off the inside of the upright from around 20 yards.
Capable of leapfrogging Ulsan into group leadership with a win, Tokyo could have been two goals to the good when Nagai rounded the goalkeeper, before supplying Leandro in the 13th minute, but the Brazilian took too long to pull the trigger, and saw his eventual effort blocked. (Source: AFC)
