K League in AFC Champions League Match Day 2 Recap

It proved to be a mixed midweek card of fixtures for K League's AFC Champions League sides. While there were wins for FC Seoul and Pohang Steelers over Buriram United and Kaya respectively, Gangwon FC suffered defeat, and Ulsan HD came back from behind to rescue a point.

AFC Champions League Elite

FC Seoul 3-0 Buriram United (THA)

FC Seoul picked up their first AFC Champions League win in five years on Tuesday night, seeing off the challenge of Thai giants Buriram United with relative ease. Once Seoul took the lead through a Choi Jun finish from close range, Seoul began to assert themselves. A much slicker FC Seoul then added goals through Jeong Seung-won, whose deep cross from a short corner made it all the way through to the back of the net, then Lucas Silva, who swept home with a composed finish at the back post in the second half. 

Seoul's last ACL win was also against Thai opposition, a 5-0 rout of Chiangrai United on 23th November 2020. However, Seoul's last ACL home win goes back a bit further to February of that year, a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory before the competition was halted and moved to a bubble later in the year. Seoul now have four points from their first two games.

[READ: FC Seoul-Buriram presser highlights]

Chengdu Rongcheng (CHN) 1-0 Gangwon FC

Another rotated Gangwon FC side was sent into action in the AFC Champions League, but this time, the Bears were unable to pull off the same heroics as they did against Shanghai Shenhua. A Tim Chow strike in the first half meant Chengdu Rongcheng earned all three points in what was their first-ever AFC Champions League home game. Gangwon performed well enough, but the rotated XI ran out of ideas and struggled to break a stubborn Chengdu down, despite having 62% possession with 81% passing accuracy. Gangwon will perhaps feel somewhat hard done by, with Chengdu scoring what was the Chinese Super League side's only shot on target. 

Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1-1 Ulsan HD

Ulsan HD came back from behind to earn a draw away to Shanghai Shenhua, making it two unbeaten to start the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite league stage. A goal from Luis Asue just after the restart gave the hosts the lead, but Gustav Ludwigson levelled on 62 minutes with a well-taken cushioned volley from just outside the box. It was a match that saw Ulsan shade possession - 56% to 44%  - but one which saw both teams have an equal number of chances. Both dispatched 13 shots with four finding the target. Ulsan also hit the bar and looked much more purposeful going forward. 

AFC Champions League Two

Pohang Steelers 2-0 Kaya F.C.–Iloilo (PHI)

Pohang Steelers made it two wins from two in ACL Two Group H, thanks to a 2-0 victory at home to Philippines side Kaya F.C.–Iloilo. But it wasn't as straightforward as the scoreline might suggest with Kaya proving to be a tough nut to crack. The Steelers enjoyed 73% possession and had 18 total shots with seven finding the target. But it wasn't until the 82nd minute when Pohang opening the scoring and did so via a Kaishu Yamazaki own goal, turning in a Cho Jae-hun ball towards the face of goal. A second goal came in the 93rd minute with Hwang Seo-woong finding the target with a glancing header from a perfectly weighted Kim In-sung cross. The match also saw Pohang's fringe players earn a second straight clean sheet in ACL Two to sit joint top of the group with Tampines Rovers, who they face next.

K League in AFC Champions League Upcoming Fixtures

AFC Champions League Elite

Tuesday 21st October

Ulsan HD vs. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) - 19:00

Wednesday 22nd October

Gangwon FC vs. Vissel Kobe (JPN) - 19:00
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) vs. FC Seoul - 21:15 

AFC Champions League Two

Thursday 23rd October

Tampines Rovers (SGN) vs. Pohang Steelers - 19:00