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HONG KONG, Sept. 14 (Reuters) – Ulsan Hyundai kept up hopes of winning back-to-back Asian Champions League titles on Tuesday as Jo Hyeon-woo’s exploits earned Hong Myung-bo’s side a 3- win. 2 on penalties against Kawasaki Frontale against Kawasaki Frontale. Japan and a spot in Friday’s quarterfinal draw.
Jo, who became a national hero in South Korea after his scoring exploits at the 2018 World Cup, fended off Akihiro Ienaga’s attempt in the final round of penalties before Yoon Bit-garam failed. hits the winner to get Ulsan through.
The South Koreans advanced to the final eight alongside Japan’s Nagoya Grampus, who fought back twice to give Daegu FC a 4-2 loss at Toyota Stadium.
Polish striker Jakub Swierczok, who was making his debut in the competition, managed a hat-trick as he tormented Daegu’s defense throughout, hoisting his side into the last eight despite two delays.
Brazilian midfielder Cesinha put the Koreans ahead in the fourth minute with a strike from a distance, but Swierczok equalized eight minutes later with a curled finish in the bottom corner.
Edgar Silva’s 28th-minute header put Daegu in front, but two goals in two minutes in Swierczok’s second half gave Nagoya control of the game.
The 28-year-old managed cross from Ryoya Morishita before overtaking Hong Jeong-un to complete his hat trick with an emphatic finish in the 65th minute.
Shinnosuke Nakatani put the result beyond doubt when he had the time and space to head to Mateus’ corner as Grampus reached the last eight for the first time since losing in the semi-finals in 2009.
Ulsan’s victory, meanwhile, came in a tense clash at an empty stadium in Ulsan Munsu as both sides took a cautious approach.
Kim Ji-hyun thought he won the game for the Korean side in the last minute of extra time, only to see his header hit the post.
Tension wreaked havoc in the shootout with Jo and his counterpart Jung Sung-ryong seeing the opposition miss twice before Ienaga’s attempt was saved in the final round, allowing Yoon to score the winner.
Al Hilal’s Saudis, winners in 2019, advanced to the quarter-finals with their victory over Esteghlal of Iran on Monday.
Tajikistan’s Istiklol face Iranian Persepolis later on Tuesday in the western half of the draw as Saudi club Al Nassr meet Iran’s Tractor FC and UAE duo Sharjah and Al Wahda face off .
Double champions Jeonbuk Motors will face Thailand’s BG Pathum United on Wednesday when Cerezo Osaka takes on the Pohang Steelers in search of a spot in Friday’s quarter-final draw.
Reporting by Michael Church, editing by Ed Osmond
Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
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