The number of goals scored in the first round was quite low, but I think it was a very high quality ball game, all because both Ulsan HD and Yokohama Mariners created good chances to score.
Ulsan HD definitely deserves a 1:0 home win in this AFC Champions League Top 4 first round match. And in fact, it should have gotten more goals without Cho Min-gyu hitting the post and a couple of great saves from Yokohama Mariners goalkeeper William Park.
However, with high quality players in the Ulsan HD lineup such as scorer Cho Min-gyu, wing forward Ahn Won, and Lee Dong-kyung as well as recent bold attacks to play to win the game, I think they'll have a chance to score when they attack on the counterattack.
Ulsan HD will have to deliver a good defensive performance when they visit Japan in the second round. They have conceded just two goals in five knockout matches, and their defense, led by South Korean national team stalwart Kim Young-gwon and goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, is both strong and organized.
The biggest threat to the Yokohama Mariners comes from Brazilian wing Nemafios and attacking goalkeeper Ken Matsubara, both of whom are at the heart of their attack. For them, the biggest chance of scoring may be the team's ability to accurately get the ball to the feet of goal scorer Andersen Lubis before pressure is applied.
Andersen Lubis scored a total of 5 goals in this tournament, but I don't think he was very efficient in the first round, reacting too slowly when there was a chance to equalize the score. But I believe that Ulsan HD's defenders are capable of freezing him and he will be hoping for an improved and threatening performance this time around.
I'm sure things will be quite tight again in this match, but Ulsan HD's defense can not only withstand the pressure, but also create goal scoring opportunities for the front line offense. Therefore, I expect them to win the peace in today's battle and make it to the final.
