Ulsan: Dave Bulthuis insists Ulsan Hyundai have what it takes to lift the 2019 AFC Champions League after the K League side secured a highly impressive 2-1 away victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in the first leg of the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
Ulsan had not won away in the competition in more than two years but put in an assured performance at Saitama Stadium and, after falling behind, leveled before the interval through Joo Min-kyu before substitute Hwang Il-su struck a late winner.
The victory means the Korean side now must only avoid defeat at home – where they have won all three of their games to date – to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2012.
“We gained a lot of confidence from the game, but it’s not only this game, we have done really well in the season so far,” said the Dutch defender, who joined from SC Heerenveen in his homeland at the beginning of the 2019.
"We’ve only lost two games this season and I think defensively, as a team, we are really strong. I believe in Ulsan, I believe in my teammates and I’ve said this for a while because we’ve been playing so well.
"I’m confident that we can go on and win the AFC Champions League.”
80' GOAL!! Urawa Red Diamonds 1-2 @UlsanFC!
Ulsan Hyundai have taken the lead here as substitute Hwang Il-su runs through the middle and fires in a low drive that beats @REDSOFFICIAL goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa! 2-1 to the visitors! #URAvULS #ACL2019 pic.twitter.com/muCMi0LRev
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) June 19, 2019
Ulsan have proved one of the most difficult teams to break down in the tournament so far, with Kim Do-hoon’s side conceding just twice en route to securing top spot in Group H with a game to spare.
A heavy 5-0 defeat away at Shanghai SIPG followed, although with qualification secured Kim opted to rest a number of key players – including Bulthuis – and, joint top of K League 1 in Korea Republic, Ulsan arrived in Japan full of confidence.
Urawa had the better of the early proceedings but the visitors weathered the storm before growing in belief after the interval and eventually securing their first away win on the Continent since beating Brisbane Roar in the 2017 group stage.
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이 겼 다! ACL 16강 2차전은 26일(수) 오후 8시 문수축구경기장에서 열립니다. 문수로 모이세요! #울산현대 #MyteamUlsan
Ahead of the return meeting on Wednesday, the odds are heavily stacked in the hosts’ favour, with Ulsan having yet to concede in front of their own fans and the visitors having lost on their past six visits to Korea Republic.
“Urawa played a really good game in the first leg, and they are very dangerous with the ball as they can penetrate the opposition defence,” added Bulthuis.
“But I think we were able to win the first game because our condition was stronger than theirs.”
Source: the-afc.com