Professional soccer team Ulsan HD hosted Japan’s Yokohama Marinos in the first leg of the Asian Champions League (ACL) quarterfinals at the Tiger Den (nickname for Ulsan Munsu Stadium) on Sunday. Together with Yokohama, Ulsan expressed their nostalgia for an unforgettable man.
The late Yoo Sang-chul, who played for Ulsan (1994-1998, 2002-2003, 2005-2006) and Yokohama (1999-2000, 2003-2004) during his playing career, was the honorary coach of 안전카지노사이트 Incheon United.
Yoo, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021, won two regular season titles (1996-2005) and two League Cups (1995-1998) with Ulsan. He was also a legend in Yokohama, where he reached the top of the J-League twice (2003-2004).
Ulsan showed a video tribute to Yoo before the game. Ulsan players honored Yoo with T-shirts and mufflers in his honor. The Yokohama players were unable to wear T-shirts due to sponsorship issues, but they actively cooperated by not receiving any royalties from the event.
The crowds for both teams were also in unison. In the sixth minute of the first half, Yoo was honored with a 60-second ovation in recognition of the number 6 he wore during his playing career. The Yokohama fans showed their love for Yoo by holding up signs in Japanese and Korean that read, “The spirit of never giving up, let us take over, with Yoo Sang-chul-hyung.
Winning and losing were not the same thing. Ulsan opened the scoring for Yokohama in the 20th minute when Lee Dong-kyung connected with a sensational left-footed shot off a ball from Lee Min-gyu. Ulsan held on for the 1-0 victory, despite the fact that Lee Min-kyu’s 23rd minute shot and Lee Dong-kyung’s 24th minute shot hit the post in the second half. Ulsan secured a spot in the ACL final and a ticket to next year’s FIFA Club World Cup, which will expand to 32 teams.
The scorer of the game-winning goal, Lee Dong-kyung, has become another person Ulsan fans don’t want to see go. Lee has been at the peak of his powers with six goals (second) and four assists (first) in seven K League 1 games this year, but he will have to say goodbye for the time being when he enlists in the National Armed Forces Athletic Corps on Sept. 29. The ACL quarterfinal second leg in Yokohama, Japan, on Sept. 24 and the eighth round against K-League 1 Jeju United on Sept. 28 are the only two matches he can play for Ulsan. Lee is determined to give his best until the end and help Ulsan punch their ticket to the ACL finals.