Source: Xinhua

04-23-2009 08:18

BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Guo'an's ambition to enter the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League was dented here on Wednesday night as they lost to Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 at the Workers' Stadium.

Jangeun Cho's follow-up header in the 73rd minute sealed the victory and left the South Korean club firmly in control of Group E with two points clear of the currently third-placed Guoan.

Cheered by a home crowd of 32,645 on a chilly night, Guo'an started slowly and suffered a huge blow after 20 minutes when playmaker Huang Bowen was forced off with a foot injury and had to be replaced by left winger Du Wenhui.

Without the commanding player, the home side lacked shape in midfield and struggled to gain a foothold on two wins. Substitute Du came close to scoring on 30 minutes when his left-flank free kick flew inches wide of the right post. Forward Ryan Griffiths and his brother Joel didn't touch the ball and missed the golden chance.

Ulsan Hyundai, who defeated the Chinese opponent 1-0 at home in their first meet, gradually increased the pressure five minutes from the half time. The right fullback Kim Shinwook raced to the box and nearly beat Beijing's diving keeper Yang Zhi before defender Paul Modibo hacked the ball off the line.

The Cameroonian defender showed his dominance in the air throughout the match, heading the Koreans' passes out of the area resolutely on and on but failed to block the opponent's opener 28 minutes after the rest. Midfielder Jangeun Cho in the far post headed a right-wing cross to the upper corner and broke the deadlock.

Guo'an should have made the last-gasp equalizer in the injury time when Tao Wei set up Joel free in the box but only saw the Australian forward send the ball soaring to the stands in front of the desperate Korean keeper.

The Asian Champions League has been revamped for this season with a new 32-team group format and 1.5 million U.S. dollars up for the winner of the final in Tokyo in November.

Editor:Zheng Limin