Professional soccer K-League 1 Pohang Steelers won their fifth consecutive win in the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL).

Pohang defeated Hanoi FC (Vietnam) 2-0 in the 5th home game of Group J of the 2023-2024 season ACL group stage held at Pohang Steel Yard on the afternoon of the 29th.

Pohang, who had previously confirmed their advance to the round of 16, maintained first place in the group with five consecutive wins in the group stage. Pohang will play its final match away to Wuhan on the 6th of next month.

On the other hand, Hanoi, the lowest ranked team, had 1 win and 4 losses (1 point).

In another match in the same group, 2nd place (5 points) Urawa Reds (Japan) and 3rd place Wuhan Sanjeon (China, 5 points) drew 1-1 and took 1 point each.

In this season's ACL East Asia region, the top three teams from five groups (Groups F-J) and the five second-place teams from each group will receive tickets to the round of 16.

Pohang took the lead early with Lee Ho-jae's first goal in the 33rd minute of the first half and Ha Chang-rae's additional goal in the 8th minute of the second half.

At the same time, in the Group F group stage, Jeonbuk Hyundai, which had 10 players sent off, won 2-1 in an away game against Kichi (Hong Kong), led by former national team member and acting manager Kim Dong-jin.

Jeonbuk, with 3 wins and 2 losses (9 points), narrowed the point gap with leader Bangkok United (Thailand, 10 points), which has not yet played a game, to 1 point. In addition, the gap with 3rd place Lion City (Singapore, 6 points) widened to 3 points.

This is Jeonbuk’s first win in an ACL away game this season. Jeonbuk, which has found hope in the round of 16, will play its final match at home against Bangkok on the 13th of next month.

Jeonbuk broke the balance with Moon Seon-min's first goal just two minutes into the game. Then, in the 38th minute of the first half, Song Min-gyu scored an additional goal.

However, in extra time in the first half, defender Jeong Tae-wook received a red card and was sent off, leading to a crisis.

Jeonbuk, who were outnumbered, began to strengthen their game at the start of the second half by replacing attacker Song Min-gyu with defender Koo Ja-ryong.

Jeonbuk, which overcame several crises thanks to goalkeeper Kim Jeong-hoon's saves, gave up a goal to Kic's Jakob Janzer in the 24th minute of the second half, but finished the game with a 2-1 win without conceding any more goals. 19가이드03