Jeonbuk and Ulsan draw 1-1 in AFC Champions League quarterfinal

The draw between the two K League 1 heavyweights sets up a crucial rematch in the second game next week, which will send the winner to the semifinals.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players react after a 1-1 draw with Ulsan HD at the 2023-24 AFC Champions League quarterfinals held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors drew 1-1 with Ulsan HD in the first leg of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, setting up a crucial rematch next week.

Both teams have plenty to do in the opening days of the 2024 K League 1, which kicked off on March 1. Jeonbuk went into the K League derby at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on the back of a draw in their season opener last week, while Ulsan went in with a win.

Jeonbuk opened the scoring in just four minutes with winger Lee Dong-jun displaying a quick pace to make a well-timed cross to assist Song Min-kyu’s goal.

Lee and another winger, Moon Seon-min, led most of the attack from the side, but they failed to stretch the lead through the end of the first half after new signee Tiago Orobo missed a penalty in the 24th minute.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Tiago Orobo takes a penalty during an AFC Champions League quarterfinal against Ulsan HD at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Orobo, who joined Jeonbuk from Daejeon Hana Citizen in December last year as the 2023 K League 1 second-top scorer, has yet to score his first goal for Jeonbuk.

Ulsan equalized in the 77th minute with Lee Myung-jae exploiting the ball that Jeonbuk's defense failed to clear in the penalty area.

Both sides created multiple chances in the remaining minutes of the game but failed to score a much-needed winner, ending the match 1-1.

The two teams will play the second leg of the quarterfinals in Ulsan on March 12 to decide which team moves on to the semis.

For Jeonbuk, it would be their second consecutive year to do so, having exited the tournament last season in the semifinals with a loss on penalties to Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan.

As for Ulsan, it would be their first time reaching the semifinals since 2021 when they joined the last four and exited after a loss to fellow K League 1 team Pohang Steelers.

Both have games in the K League until they are back in Champions League action, with Jeonbuk facing Suwon FC on Saturday and Ulsan playing Gimcheon Sangmu on the same day.

The 2024 K League 1 that kicked off last week runs through December, while the 2023-24 Champions League runs from August 2023 to May this year.

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