Second-half goals from Mark Bridge and substitute Brendan Santalab lifted Western Sydney Wanderers to a crucial 2-0 AFC Champions League win over Korean powerhouse Ulsan Hyundai.
The win on Tuesday at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium pushes the Wanderers to the top of Group H for the first time in what is the club’s first tilt at the continental competition.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic elected to start without several key personnel including marquee man Shinji Ono, midfield ace Aaron Mooy and regular goalkeeper Ante Covic, while Socceroo defender Mathew Spiranovic unusually started in midfield.
There was a paucity of gilt-edged chances at either end until Bridge broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a towering header after latching onto a Shannon Cole cross.
Bridge then turned provider in latching onto a defensive error and teeing up Santalab for a close-range finish 10 minutes from fulltime.
The match contrasted markedly with the previous contest between the pair in Sydney two months ago when Ulsan were comfortable 3-1 winners.
Despite the change in personnel, the Wanderers were solid defensively and replacement goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson was rarely called into action.
Ulsan’s hulking 196cm striker Kim Shin-Wook was well shackled throughout by the Wanderers’ central defensive pairing of Nikolai Topor-Stanley and captain Michael Beauchamp.
Robbie
Guest
a poor mans champions league? you serious? the chinese are filthy rich and so are the middle eastern countries
jamesb
Guest
There's two "Stevo's"?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@jamesb I'm pretty sure you've got the wrong "Stevo". The Stevo you are referring to is an avid MelbHeart fan, who is proud to support the ALeague. Doing "The Duck Test", I reckon this Stevo is an ARF fan, who wants to denigrate anything to do with HAL .. just because ACL is a competition that will never ever be available to AFL, for the next 100, or 1000, or 1 million years!
jamesb
Guest
Stevo, I'll back you up I remember a few weeks ago when Victory first played Evergrande in China,the game where Victory lead 2-0, but lost 4-2. In the live blog,we were all having a debate about whether we should follow Victory. In the end, we all came to a conclusion that we all want to see our A-League teams do well in Asia. You were part of that live blog, along with myself, with Zee been the live blogger. The point I'm making is Stevo does support the ACL, (otherwise why would he be on an ACL live blog?) but I can understand his comment about the ACL- “This comp is merely a poor man’s Champions League” The ACL does have a long way to go. It'd be nice if the prize money was a lot higher.
Freddie
Guest
If you had half a brain Stevo, you would realise that winning the Asian Champions League offers a ticket to potentially play against those huge European outfits. Adelaide United (and Sydney FC, when Australia was still part of Oceania) have already represented Australia on the world stage in the FIFA Club World Cup, rubbing shoulders with the very best in the world. South Melbourne, through OFC, actually played against Manchester United in 2000.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Stevo There were 4 English teams in the UCL this year: ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea & ManCity ... why would any Liverpool, Everton, West Ham, etc. etc. fan care what happens to these teams?
Stevo
Guest
Thanks Bob!
Stevo
Guest
I have watched quite a number (on TV of course I would not attend such rubbish). Unfortunately there is little else live sport on week nights. Most Aussies are of European descent and have some affiliation with a part of the European continent as their ancestors migrated to this country from there. This may not be the case for you but it is for the majority of Australians. Surprised you don't know that really to be honest.
Stevo
Guest
post hoc - If English is your (note correct use of 'your') first language then such illiteracy is indeed sad. I stay here as you put it because I choose to. Oh and others on this tab seem to be able to write pretty well.
JonJax
Guest
Our PM has just led a Cavalleria rusticana of state premiers and Australian captains of industry, thru Japan, China and Korea- three nations that take up to 70% of our exports- underlying the importance of engaging with this region. Within three days of the PM’s return, three A-league teams are deepening that engagement thru ACL participation and FOOTBALL- the lingua franca of Asia. Bravo Wanderers, Bravo Victory & Bravo Mariners. Forza Football! Forza Australia!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"This comp is merely a poor man’s Champions League" How do you know? How many games have you watched of Asian Champions League football over the past 8 years? And, who cares if it's not as good as the UCL. I live in Australia & my club plays in the ACL. Why would I care about clubs representing cities & towns with whom I have ZERO affiliation?
Post_hoc
Guest
wow you are sadder than I thought, if we are an illiterate bunch, why do you stoop so low and stay here, surely a man of your intellect must be continually frustrated by us murdering the language . oh that is right I forgot, you are so in need of validation that you stay here, how sad.
JAJI
Guest
So what is your plan to transport Australia as a country to join UEFA Heck we all know its more pleasing to the eye watching Real Madrid than Hyundai or Shanghai Shenwua - but its the comp we are in and that's all that matters. I love my A League and I was watching UEFA Champions League Finals back in the late 80's (Ariggo Sacchi Milan 2 on the trot anyone?)
Bob
Guest
Good one Stevo!! However I fixed your sentiment so it was less offensive "I do not hold the Asian Champions League in as high a regard as that of the UEFA Champions League. I prefer to watch the UEFA Champions League with teams I know and care about." Enjoy the UEFA Champions League buddy, they really have some incredible football on display and fox sports show a lot of the games live and delayed. You might even be lucky enough to go to a game or two the next time you are in Europe.
ciudadmarron
Guest
At least on the rugby tab you dont have to desl with riff raff huh? Get back to the eastern suburbs or the north shore or whichever enclave taught you spelling and grammar are true markers of intelligence and the ultimate argument winner. I bet that gap year really gave you an incredibly close tie to whichever champions league regular you "support".
Stevo
Guest
Post hoc- how about you learn the difference between you're and your? At least when I post on the rugby union tab, those that comment are literate.
rmc
Guest
eurosnobs, please get behind your aussie football, be patriotic for once
Post_hoc
Guest
and why post on here then? oh that is right your sad and lonely and wanted someone to bite. oh well, how about we just point and laugh instead
AZ_RBB
Guest
But it hasn't so far. The 3 ACL teams finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Probably the best case scenario considering how far ahead Brisbane have been for much of the season. WSW have a week off so they should be fine. MVFC played half the team likely to start on Friday. But they're at home for both games and SFC played Sunday night. On top of that, it seems like the tougher things get for CCM the better they play haha.
Arvind
Guest
Stevo: why post an idiotic comment on a page which has no connotations to the European Competition. This is ACL played in Asia and it will become bigger as the Asian countries get more powerful.