AFC Champions League Elite
Max Caputo’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Darijan Bojanic’s 80th minute strike before tournament debutant Younis sealed the match in the 93rd minute.
The win secured Aurelio Vidmar’s side their first knockout stage appearance in the continental showpiece while former champions Ulsan’s hopes of advancing will depend on them beating China PR’s Shanghai Port FC and also the outcome of other matches next week.
Ulsan, coming in on a three-match winless run, started the hungrier side, with Seo Myong-gwan blazing the ball over from 25-yards in the 14th minute and then trying his luck with a header, which also went over, a minute later.
The K League 1 side continued to stream forward but the next look at goal came at the other end in the 24th minute when Aziz Behich’s free-kick was comfortably palmed away by keeper Jo Hyeon-woo.
It was then Melbourne City’s turn to press, Marcus Younis’ attempt from outside the six-yard box taking a deflection off defender Sim Sang-min to fly over the bar on the half-hour mark, the midfielder then heading wide from a Behich cross shortly after.
Younis turned provider for the opening goal in the 36th minute after a flowing build-up from his half, dropping a perfectly-timed cross to Caputo, whose header from the near post went past a rooted Jo and settled in the bottom right corner.
Patrick Beach had his first taste of action in the 41st minute when the Melbourne City keeper tipped over Seo’s precise header off a corner as his side went into the break with the advantage.
National custodian Jo made the first save of the second half when he easily handled Harrison Delbridge’s attempt six minutes in as the A-League side sought to extend their lead.
Ulsan’s Bojanic and Lee Dong-gyeong both had their attempts blocked before reaching Beach, with the keeper comfortably saving another Seo header in the 65th minute while his counterpart had to go low to palm away a Medin Memeti effort moments later.
The Korea Republic side finally found the equaliser 10 minutes before the end when Bojanic picked up a loose ball and drilled his shot from outside the 18-yard box into the bottom right corner past a diving Beach.
Younis, however, sealed the win for Melbourne City with a volley from the centre of the area as the Australian side moved to 13 points and assured themselves of a top eight finish.
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