Jeonbuk beat Steelers 2-0 to kick off Champions League knockout stage

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beat the Pohang Steelers 2-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, displaying a strong performance with their new signees ahead of the regular K League 1 season.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players celebrate after Ahn Hyun-beom's goal during a 2023-24 AFC Champions League round of 16 match against the Pohang Steelers at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beat the Pohang Steelers 2-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16 of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League, displaying a strong performance with their new signees ahead of the 2024 K League.

The two sides were back in action in a K League derby at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on the eve of the regular season, which begins in March. The 2023-24 Champions League season runs over two calendar years — from September 2023 through May 2024.

Both sides changed up their starting XI from last season, but the new Jeonbuk signees had a clearer impact during the match.

Jeonbuk’s new forward Hernandes Rodrigues, who joined the club from fellow K League 1 team Incheon United after the 2023 season, needed only 17 minutes to leave his mark, scoring his debut goal in his very first game for the team with a volley to make it 1-0.

The Steelers had more ball possession during the first half, but they could not capitalize and allowed multiple goal-scoring opportunities.

Jeonbuk failed to stretch their lead through the end of the half, but another new signee Kim Tae-hwan, substituted in for Rodrigues, made a tidy cross in the 63rd minute for Ahn Hyun-beom to score what turned out to be the last goal of the match.

With the 2-0 win, Jeonbuk now have the edge to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for a third consecutive season.

The victory is a bright sign for Jeonbuk who are looking to recreate their old glory in the upcoming K League 1 season. The nine-time K League 1 champions had a relatively unsuccessful season last year, finishing the league in fourth place on the 12-team table and losing the 2023 Korean FA Cup final to the Steelers.

Last season was the first time that Jeonbuk failed to win a title since 2013. The team won the K League 1 in 2014 and 2015 and the AFC Champions League in 2016 before managing a remarkable five-season title-winning streak from 2017 through 2021 and winning the FA Cup in 2022.

The Steelers, on the other hand, seem to need more time to find their footing with a refreshed roster and a new manager.

New signees like forward Jorge Luiz did not seem to be in their very best form, although Luiz displayed an aggressive form and came close with a shot that hit the side net.

It was manager Park Tae-ha's first game in charge of the Steelers. It may take him some time to craft his best XI that could repeat the team’s strong performance last season during which the team finished the league as runners-up and 2023 FA Cup champions.

The Steelers also had a successful run in the Champions League group stage where they managed an unbeaten run with five wins and one draw. The Pohang side was the only unbeaten K League 1 team in the group stage out of four teams that competed.

Alongside the Steelers and Jeonbuk, Ulsan HD are also in this season’s Champions League knockout stage. Incheon United earlier crashed out of the group stage.

The second leg of the round of 16 between Jeonbuk and Steelers will take place in Pohang, North Gyeongsang on Feb. 20.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]