AFC Champions League Elite
Kim Min-hyeok struck early in the first half for the two-time Asian champions to give interim head coach Roh Sang-rae a winning start to his tenure and move them to seven points. Defeat left Sanfrecce on four points.
Kim bagged the opening goal 12 minutes into the match when he snuck in behind defender Sho Sasaki in the six-yard box to connect to a pass from Lee Jin-hyun and head the ball down and beyond a stranded Keisuke Osako.
Heo Yool could have increased Ulsan’s lead in the 21st minute but headed past the left post while at the other end, Kim Ju-sung’s similar attempt two minutes later whizzed past the right.
Sanfrecce’s Sota Nakamura had a golden chance to equalise in the 35th minute when he picked up a loose ball in the centre of the area but saw his thunderous shot smash against the underside of the crossbar.
His teammate Kosuke Kinoshita missed another great opportunity just before the break after Naoto Arai’s pass caught keeper Moon Jung-in off position, but the striker sent the ball wide despite an empty goalmouth at his mercy.
The J1 League side were virtually camped in Ulsan’s 18-yard box in the second half, but Kim Ju-sung, Arai, Shuto Nakano and Hayato Araki were unable to get the better of Moon and the backline despite their relentless pressure.
Sanfrecce’s misery was complete in the dying minutes when Moon dived to his right to keep out a stinging shot from Mutsuki Kato.
Ulsan will meet Japan’s Vissel Kobe next on November 5 while Sanfrecce play Korea Republic’s Gangwon FC a day earlier.
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