Sydney FC have claimed a point in their opening match of the 2022 Asian Champions League campaign after a 1-1 draw with South Korean outfit Jeonbuk.
It was a frustrating (and late) night in front of the stream for Sydney fans, watching various periods of good play and good chances ultimately go begging.
There were positive signs for the rest of the ACL campaign, however, and it’s always better to get a point than walk away with nothing. In truth, Jeonbuk didn’t have too much to offer and gilt-edged chances came few and far between for the Korean side, so we can be reasonably confident of another positive result in the return fixture on April 29.
Sydney’s group stage campaign continues on Tuesday evening with a clash against Vietnamese side Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Kick-off is set for 9pm. You can catch the game live on Paramount+, featuring Random English Guy, or over on Tenplay, where I assume Simon Hill will again be on the mic.
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What they said
“I’m a little bit disappointed with that result – I think we had enough good chances to score at least one goal,” said skipper Alex Wilkinson.
“As a whole, our team defended really well and I’m a little bit disappointed we couldn’t capitalise on the chances we had but it’s only the first game. We’ve got another game really soon (against Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai), so we need to recover quickly and hopefully, we can get the win in our next game.”
Key stats
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE, 2. James DONACHIE, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 8. Paulo RETRE (6. Mustafa AMINI 77’), 12. Trent BUHAGIAR (15. Luciano NARSINGH 73’), 14. Adam LE FONDRE (10. Milos NINKOVIC 89’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 22. Max BURGESS, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 25. Callum TALBOT, 32. Patrick YAZBEK.
Unused Subs: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND, 5. Connor O’TOOLE, 21. Harry VAN DER SAAG, 31. Adrian SEGECIC, 33. Pat WOOD, 35. Liam MCGING.
Yellow Cards: Donachie 68’.
Red Cards: None.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors: 1. Lee BUMSOO, 4. Park JINSEOB (5. Yun YOUNGSUN 89’), 6. Choi BOKYUNG (14. Lee SEUNGGI 79’), 8. Paik SEUNGHO, 10. Stanislav ILJUTCENKO, 11. Modou BARROW, 13. Kim BOKYUNG (27. Moon SEONMIN 64’), 16. Lee YOUHYEON, 17. Takahiro KUNIMOTO (26. Hong JEONGHO 64’), 23. Kim JINSU, 97. Kim JINGYU.
Subs: 41. Hwang BYEONGGEUN, 19. Lee JIHOON, 29. Ryu JAEMOON, 33. Park JINSEONG, 88. Park KYUMIN.
Yellow Cards: Kunimoto 35’,
Red Cards: None.
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium.
Referee: Ahmad AlAli (Kuwait)