Ulsan lost to Yokohama in a penalty shootout and failed to advance to the Champions League finals.

Ulsan HD, which had been challenging for the top spot in Asia, was defeated by Yokohama Marinos (Japan) and failed to advance to the finals.

Ulsan, led by coach Hong Myung-bo (55), was defeated 2-3 by Yokohama in the second leg of the 2023-2024 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Champions League semifinals held at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on the 24th, with a total of 3-3 in the first and second legs. They went into a penalty shootout and were eliminated, losing 4 to 5.

On this day, the game took place as an underwater battle with heavy rain falling even before kickoff. The atmosphere in Yokohama was led by Australian soccer legend Harry Kewell (46) at the beginning. In the 13th minute of the first half, while the Ulsan defense was struggling, Asahi Uenaka penetrated into the penalty box and scored first with his right foot. Eight minutes later, Yokohama striker Anderson Lopez scored an additional goal with an accurate left-footed shot. In the 30th minute of the first half, Uenaka hit the net again with a mid-range shot from the right side of the arc. The problem for all three goals was that Ulsan defenders, including Kim Young-kwon, allowed space for the opponent to comfortably shoot.

Coach Hong Myung-bo, who was pushed to the brink, tried to change the mood by bringing in attacking midfielder Daryan Boyanic in the 34th minute of the first half, and this mercenary strategy worked. In the 35th minute of the first half, Ulsan Mateus Salles headed a corner kick to chase down a goal. Four minutes later, Yokohama center back Takumi Kamijima received a red card for touching the ball with his arm while blocking Eom Won-sang’s breakthrough. Boyanic scored a penalty kick in the 42nd minute of the first half, and the two teams tied the first and second games 3-3.

Ulsan entered the second half with a numerical superiority, and in the 3rd minute Boyanic hit the net with a sharp shot, but offside was declared after a video review. Afterwards, they launched a series of attacks, but were unable to find a goal, so coach Hong brought in Martin Adam and Lee Chung-yong in the 25th minute of the second half. In the 41st minute of the second half, Kim Min-woo’s shot hit the goal post and he swallowed his disappointment.

Both teams fought hard in overtime, but were unable to score and went into a penalty shootout. While Ulsan and Yokohama’s number 1 to 4 kickers were all successful, Ulsan’s number 5 kicker Kim Min-woo missed. Yokohama’s No. 5 kicker’s shot went into the net, unfortunately ending Ulsan’s Champions League journey this season.