By Pearse McLaughlin
It’s advantage Ulsan HD FC in the Korea Cup Semi-Final as they triumphed 1-0 here in the 1st leg thanks to Yago Cariello’s second half strike.
Lee Jung-Hyo has picked an entire different eleven from the side that lost 3-2 to Gangwon FC last time out. The one constant the Gwangju FC boss has is the fact he’s stuck with his tried and trusted 4-4-2 formation.
Kim Pan-Gon has only kept two players in his eleven and they are Jo Hyeon-Woo and Lee Gyu-Sung. Ulsan HD FC is also making the use of his squad for this cup tie and has also tweaked his system from the 4-1-4-1 formation as he’s gone with the 4-2-3-1 formation.
A mistake at the back from Ulsan HD FC almost allowed Gwangju FC to open the scoring within a minute but for a tremendous save from Jo Hyeon-Woo the score remains level. Brilliant anticipation from Beka Mikeltadze who drove into the box and unselfishly tees up Jeong Jin-Hoon but his shot is expertly saved by Jo Hyeon-Woo who spread his body well and saved the ball with his outstretched leg. Unbelievable save.
On the 10th minute, Ulsan should have opened the scoring through Ko Seung-Beom after Roh Hee-Dong passed the ball straight to him but showed a real lack of composure as he just walloped the ball straight at the keeper and spared Roh’s blushes. All Ko Seung-Beom had to do was pick a corner but went for power in his strike and the chance was squandered. Gwangju FC get away with one there as it somehow stays level. Absolute sitter!
Gwangju FC nearly take the lead on the 27th minute as Shin Chang-Moo’s header just glanced past the left hand post as he couldn’t stretch his neck muscles enough to guide the ball on target and if he did it would have resulted in a goal as surprisingly Jo Hyeon-Woo came to claim the cross and was caught in no man’s land. A sigh of relief for Ulsan and South Korea’s number 1 as the ball goes the wrong side of the post.
A few minutes later, Gwangju FC goalkeeper Roh Hee-Dong has given the ball away in his own box but luckily it didn’t materialise to anything. Not for the first time tonight stand-in goalkeeper, Roh Hee-Dong was caught on the ball by the lightning quick Eom Won-Sang but luckily for him he got away with it again. Roh Hee-Dong either has so much composure or thinks he has all the time in the world but if he keeps playing risky passes into dangerous areas or taking an eternity to release the ball he will eventually be punished.
Both sides go in at the break level in what has been a game that’s lacked real quality which is to be expected when both teams make as many changes as they have done. Ulsan HD FC have dictated the tempo and have Gwangju FC camped in their own half constantly with them looking to hit Ulsan on the counterattack. There’s been too many misplaced passes, dispossessions and poor final balls from both teams but saying that there has been a few guilt edged chances from both sides that should have been taken.
First major opportunity the second half falls the way of Ulsan HD FC and Yago Cariello on the 50th minute as he volleys the ball towards the bottom left hand corner from just inside the box and Roh Hee-Dong produces a tremendous double save as he first gets down early and makes a fine stop from Yago’s volley before springing up and blocking the rebound from Ko Seung-Beom. Ulsan HD FC have started the first half the way they ended the first half and are starting to turn the screw on Gwangju FC here.
Deadlock is broken a mere five minutes later and it’s that man again, Yago Cariello as he slots the ball through the legs of Roh Hee-Dong and gives Ulsan HD FC the lead in the semi-final first leg. I did think it would prove costly the way Roh Hee-dong was playing in terms of his distribution and there’s only so many times you can get away with and not be punished. He has been punished big time by Yago Cariello as the Brazilian shows brilliant composure picking up the loose ball on the edge of the box, takes a touch to set himself before coolly rolling the ball through Roh’s legs and into the back of the net. Ulsan HD FC lead 1-0.
Gwangju FC nearly respond straight away on the 62nd minute as Kim Han-Gil works a neat one two with Lee Kang-Hyun down the left hand side with the latter playing a delicate reverse ball into the feet of the former leaving him one-on-one with Jo Hyeon-Woo but Kim Kee-Hee gets a massive block in out of nowhere and denies a certain goal. Wonderful football played there Gwangju FC and equally great defending by Ulsan HD FC’s number 4, Kim Kee-Hee to keep his side in the lead. It remains 1-0 to Ulsan.
Late VAR drama in the 6th minute of eight additional minutes added on at the end of the game as Gwangju FC thought they had equalised through substitute Moon Min-Seo but he had just fractionally strayed offside in the build up. It’s a shame too as the goal was real quality as he received the ball on the inside left channel cut in past three defenders before curling an effort towards goal which was massively deflected and sent Jo Hyeon-Woo the complete wrong way. The right decision was made by the officials and the goal is ruled out for offside.
It’s all over here at the Gwangju Football Stadium as Ulsan HD FC have take a slender one nil lead going into next week’s second-leg in Ulsan. Gwangju FC will feel this is a missed opportunity as they had home advantage and had won the last four fixtures against the two sides but Ulsan HD FC showing again why they’ve won the league in each of the last two seasons. All to play for in the second leg next week and I expect a much stronger lineup from both sides as they both will be eyeing up a chance to play in the final either against the holders, Pohang Steelers or Jeju United.
Back to league duty for both sides as the second instalment of this triple header happens this upcoming Sunday the 25th of August and the match is set for a 7pm kick off time again at the Gwangju Football Stadium. The return leg of this Korea Cup Semi Final tie takes place on Wednesday 28th of August
Gwangju: Roh Hee-Dong, Cho Sung-Gwon, Kim Gyeong-Jae, Ahn Young-Kyu, Lee Eu-Ddeum (Lee Min-Ki 66'), Kim Han-Gil (Jasir Asani 76'), Lee Kang-Hyun, Park Tae-Joon, Jeong Ji-Hoon (Kim Seung-Woo 46'), Beka Mikeltadze (Ha Seung-Un 79'), Shin Chang-Moo (Moon Min-Seo 66'). Subs not used: Kim Kyeong-Min, Oh Hu-Seong.
Ulsan HD FC: Jo Hyeon-Woo, Choi Kang-Min, Kim Kee-Hee (Kim Young-Gwon 79'), Lim Jong-Eun, Lee Myung-Jae, Ko Seung-Beom (Won Du-Jae 79'), Jung Woo-Young, Eom Won-Sang, Lee Gyu-Sung (Giorgi Arabidze 66'), Gustav Ludwigson (Lee Chung-Yong 79'), Yago Cariello (Joo Min-Kyu 66'). Subs not used: Jo Su-Hyeok, Yun Il-Lok.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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