Doha: No win was expected for Hong Myung-bo as Ulsan Hyundai FC fell 2-1 to Tigres UANL of Mexico in the Qatar second round tie of the FIFA 2020 World Cup but the newly-appointed head coach was situation satisfied with the performance in relation to.
Ulsan Hyundai, winner of the 2020 AFC Champions League, enjoyed a dream at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday with Kim Kee-hee gives them 24th minute lead.
Frenchman Andre-Pierre Gignac, however, emerged as a Tigres star with a brace, pulling the CONCACAF champions level in the 38th minute before retiring from the penalty spot in the first half of extra time.
“The players gave 100 percent against a tough opponent,” Hong said. “I think we did a good job on the defensive end. After scoring the first goal, we were pushed around a bit by their attack.
“But I could stay with that, and I think our players responded well overall. We have to face it that we gave up both goals on set pieces.”
The defeat of Tigres UANL came just eight weeks after Ulsan Hyundai lifted the AFC Champions League cup with a 2-1 win over Persepolis FC Islamic Republic of Iran but the Republic of Korea club are largely a team in transition.
Junior Negrao Strikers, who scored both goals in the win over Persepolis, and Bjorn Johnsen have both left the club while midfielder Lee Chung-yong and defender Hong Chul have not traveled to Qatar because they are nursing injuries.
With the situation, Hong said he could not blame the performance of his players.
“I think we pretty much implemented our game plan. Early on, we responded well to their attacks on the sidelines,” the Republic of Korea legend said.
“We made a few changes in the second half. We had no particular problems, except the way we didn’t succeed after the killings after our first goal.”
Next up for Ulsan Hyundai is the fifth-place play against Asian side Al Duhail SC, with the host club having been beaten 1-0 by Egyptian Al Ahly SC in the second round. of them Thursday.
Their semi-final dream has collapsed, Ulsan Hyundai can still end the tournament if they beat Al Duhail after they settle for a sixth-place finish in the FIFA Club World Cup 2012.
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