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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium / 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite / ACLE / League Stage 1 Game 1 / Ulsan HDFC vs Chengdu Rung Chung / Ulsan Um Won-sang / Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium/ 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite/ACLE/ League Stage 1 Game 1/ Ulsan HDFC vs Chengdu Rongcheng/ Ulsan Heo Yul/ Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium/ 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite/ACLE/ League Stage 1 Game 1/ Ulsan HDFC vs Chengdu Rung Chung/ Ulsan Group/ Victory Photo/ Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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Heo Yul (24) emerged as a solution while Malkong (31), who was ambitiously recruited by Ulsan HD, faltered.
Heo Yul gave Ulsan a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in the first round of the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) league stage in the 2025-2026 season against Chengdu Longcheng (China) at Munsu Football Stadium on the 17th, scoring a dramatic winning goal in the 50th minute added time in the second half. After trapping Um Won-sang's 26-year-old cross with his chest, he opened the goal with his left foot.
He led Ulsan's 1-1 draw with a strong header goal in the 『East Coast Derby" against the Pohang Steelers on the 13th, four days ago. He escaped from the scoring drought six months and 189 days after multi-goal against SK in Jeju on March 9.
The momentum continued in the match against Chengdu. Ulsan coach Shin Tae-yong said he would focus more on the K-League, which is a cliff edge, not ACLE. In the match against Cheongdu, nine of the best 11 players against Pohang were replaced. Heo Yul started on the bench, while Malkong started.
Malkon had a crucial chance in the seventh minute of the first half. Lee Hee-kyun's cross was delivered to Malkon. But his volley shot was slightly off the post. Chengdu scored the first goal in the 44th minute of the first half. Lee Hee-kyun and Trojac overlapped in front of the penalty area, failing to properly handle the ball. The ball was caught on Deargiaduo's toes. His right foot shot passed through Cho Hyun-woo and hit the net.
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium/ 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite/ACLE/ League Stage 1 Game 1/ Ulsan HDFC vs. Chengdu Rongcheng/ Ulsan Heoyul Scoring/ Goal Ceremony/ Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium/ 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite/ACLE/ League Stage 1 Game 1/ Ulsan HDFC vs. Chengdu Rongcheng/ Ulsan Heo Yul/ Interview after the game/ Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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Coach Shin put in Heo Yul instead of Malkong at the beginning of the second half, and made a brilliant fruit with the winning goal. Ulsan appointed coach Shin as a firefighter, but after one win, it was in a winless swamp (1 draw and 3 losses) for four consecutive games. Worries about the promotion and playoffs (PO) are approaching as they fall to ninth place in K League 1.
ACLE is another battlefield. Ulsan took the stage as the K League 1 champion in the 2024 season. In the first half, the nightmare of last season seemed to be rekindled. Ulsan failed to advance to the round of 16 with one win and six losses. Fortunately, he crossed the first pass with a come-from-behind victory.
It was 'Spring' given by Heo Yul. "After the game against Pohang, it was a midweek game, so both the coach and the players prepared well in one mind and led to the victory. I'll enjoy the win until today, and I'll prepare well to win the weekend league" he said.
Heo Yul, who scored goals in two consecutive games, also said, `I think the player who entered as a substitute should change the atmosphere. I went in with a 0-1 deficit, so I thought I had to turn the game around"The director asked me to press strongly from the front, fight strength, and be active. I think doing so led to an equalizer and an upset goal."
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium/ 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite/ACLE/ League Stage 1st Match/ Ulsan HDFC vs. Chengdu Rongcheng/ Ulsan Um Won-sang Scoring/ Goal Ceremony/ Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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| Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium / 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite / ACLE / League Stage 1 Game 1 / Ulsan HDFC vs Chengdu Rung Chung / Ulsan Group / Team Greetings / Photo by Kim Jung-soo |
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What made Heo Yul shine even more was Um Won-sang, who was born in 1999 at Kumho High School in Gwangju for three years. Coach Shin last took out Um Won-sang's card, who returned early from injury in the 27th minute of the second half when the goal was rarely scored. Um Won-sang opened the door.
He scored the equalizer four minutes into the game. Boyanich's fantastic through pass was connected to Um Won-sang, who penetrated the offside trap and dug into the back space. Um Won-sang's first shot, which was a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, was caught by the opponent's goalkeeper, but he responded with a left-footed shot again. He scored one goal and one assist.
Um Won-sang, who was out of power due to a right hand injury, returned to the ground for the first time in 48 days since the match against Gangwon on July 27 against Pohang. After the Chengdu match, he said "All the games don't go the way they want, as they prepared. I expected to some extent. There was a hard time, but I overcame it well. All the players go in to win when they enter the game. I felt the same way.'
He is still not 100 per cent in condition. But I couldn't just rest. "It's not easy. I hurt my shoulder and fractured my finger right away. It was mentally difficult. I'm worried that injuries always come. But I think I'm getting used to it now. I think it's still half. The bones have not yet been attached, and there are many worries because they are cautious. I think today's game helped the team a little bit, so I think it came up a little bit."
Ulsan fired a signal of reversal in ACLE. Um Won-sang "I hope it turns out to be a reversal. The situation is not easy, and all the players feel that way. I also feel like I should play with a lot of responsibility. Through today's game, I hope the players will have confidence and do well in the rest of the game," he added.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
