Background and time of the competition
On April 24, Beijing time, the focus of Asian football gathered on a heavyweight contest - the semifinals of the AFC Champions League. In this arena of glory and dreams, Japan's J-League Yokohama Mariners welcomed the champion of South Korea's K-League, Ulsan HD. This is not only a contest of skills and tactics, but also a direct dialogue between the football strength of the two countries.
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Yokohama's backwater
The Yokohama Mariners lost 1-0 in the first leg, meaning they will have to give it their all when they return to their home stadium to achieve their dream of coming back from here. It is clear to the whole team that this will be their most crucial game of the season. The players are gearing up and ready to make up for the disappointment of the first leg with practical actions.
The course of the game and the goal frenzy
As soon as the game began, the Yokohama Mariners showed a strong desire to win. Their pressing and attacking organisation up front were very orderly. In the 13th minute, a subtle cross from Mateus tore through the Ulsan HD defence, and Asahi Uechu followed up with a push to open the scoring for the Yokohama Mariners. The goal was a huge morale boost for the home team and gave them hope of a comeback.
Just ten minutes later, the Yokohama Mariners launched another onslaught. Lopes fired a low shot into the far corner from inside the box to make it 2-0 and 2-1 on aggregate. Both goals showcased the attacking prowess and teamwork of the Yokohama Mariners, with Matthaus playing a key role in which his planning and organisational skills were impressive.
However, Ulsan HD is an experienced team after all, and they are not going to give up easily. Falling behind, they quickly made adjustments, tightened their grip in midfield and tried to tear apart the Yokohama Mariners' defence by attacking from the wings.
Ulsan's counterattack and controversy red dot
Just when the Yokohama Mariners thought they were winning, Ulsan HD launched a fierce counterattack. In the 35th minute, Salles took advantage of a header to pull one back for his team. Just six minutes later, Bojanic levelled the score at 3-3 with a penalty penalty in the box and his own shot. The goal gave Ulsan HD hope for a comeback and put the Yokohama Mariners in a difficult position.
It is worth mentioning that before Bojanic's goal, a player from the Yokohama Mariners team was awarded a red dot package for handball. The decision caused a lot of controversy after the game, with some arguing that the red card was too harsh and others believing that the referee's decision was accurate. In any case, this red dot package became a turning point in the game, and it also put the Yokohama Mariners in a passive situation of playing one less.
Yokohama, one man less, stubbornly defended
Despite playing one less, the Yokohama Mariners did not give up. They keep their opponents around with tenacious defence and quick counter-attacks. In the ensuing game, both sides had chances to score, but neither took them. At half-time, the aggregate score was still tied between the two sides.
After the start of the second half, Ulsan HD continued to intensify their offensive and tried to break the deadlock with their numerical advantage. However, the Yokohama Mariners were very solid defensively, withstanding the onslaught of their opponents through teamwork and individual performances. Despite being in a passive situation at one point in the game, the Yokohama Mariners never gave up their desire and pursuit of victory.
Extra-time and penalty shootouts
With the end of regulation time, the two sides played to a draw. This means they will need to go over to extra time to decide the winner. In extra time, both sides had chances to kill their opponents, but neither took their chances. Kim Min-woo's goalmouth scramble was ruled offside, allowing the Yokohama Mariners to escape.
Eventually, the game went into a brutal penalty shootout. In this session, the Yokohama Mariners showed excellent mental quality and shooting skills. They won a hard-fought 5-4 victory, knocking out Ulsan HD 8-7 on aggregate over two legs to advance to the AFC Champions League final.
Yokohama sailors make history
This match is of historic significance for the Yokohama Mariners. Not only did they come back from behind to knock out the mighty Korean champions Ulsan HD, but they also created a new chapter in the team's history. This is their first AFC Champions League final and will compete with Al Ain in West Asia for the title of overall title. This victory is not only a reward for the hard work of the players, but also the best response to the long-term support of the fans.
This match is a contest full of passion and drama. The Yokohama Mariners stubbornly came back from behind to eliminate their opponents with one less player, showing their team spirit and indomitable fighting spirit. Their performances have made the fans crazy and have made them look forward to another great result in the AFC Champions League final.