K League in AFC Champions League Match Day 5 Recap

The fifth AFC Champions League match day of the 2025-2026 season was one of mixed fortunes for K League's representation. There was a big win for FC Seoul over Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port, but Gangwon FC suffered their second defeat on the bounce, and a much-rotated Ulsan HD side laboured to a 0-0 draw at home to Buriram United. In ACL Two, Pohang Steelers earned a 2-0 home win over BG Pathum United to secure qualification to the knockout rounds.
(Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

AFC Champions League Elite

Gangwon 1-3 Machida Zelvia

Gangwon FC lost 3-1 at home to J1 League side Machida Zelvia to make it back-to-back losses in AFC Champions League Elite for the first time. Manager Jeong Kyung-ho fielded a strong team, but it wasn't enough to stop the recently-crowned Emperor's Cup champions. Keiya Sento opened the scoring 25 minutes in with a close-range header, before Hokuto Shimoda made it 2-0 just three minutes later via a free-kick into the top right-hand corner. Zelvia then found a third through Korean striker Oh Se-hun six minutes before the interval. 

Park Ho-young, a half-time replacement for Marko Tuci, pulled a goal back for the Bears on 54 minutes, but it was a night to forget for Gangwon, who will have felt frustrated with the performance, particularly having had so much of the ball - 68% to Zelvia's 32% - but managed just four shots on target from 11 overall attempts. Zelvia were clinical, finding the back of the net with all three of their shots on target from 10 overall. Gangwon slip out of the qualification places and into ninth. Up next in ACLE is Buriram United away on December 9th.

Shanghai Port 1-3 FC Seoul

(Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

FC Seoul were in fine fettle in their 3-1 win over recently-crowned Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port. It was the much-awaited second win in the competition this season, with Kim Gi-dong's men stuck in second gear following the Match Day 2 win at home to Buriram. Former England international Jesse Lingard opened the scoring, opening his ACL account in the process, with a wonderful team goal in the 48th minute. A one-two from Marko Dugandzic and Choi Jun, then a smart pass into Lingard 10 yards out was expertly converted. The hosts levelled 10 minutes later but Seoul soon regained their lead, this time it was scorer turning provider when Lingard sent in a cross from deep towards Lucas Silva, who duly headed home. Lingard capped off a perfect night for him and FC Seoul on 77 minutes. A deft first-time finish 12 yards out from a smart ball by Hwang Do-yun made it 3-1 and three points for Korea's capital club. It was FC Seoul's first win over Shanghai Port, and first ACL away win since April 2017. Seoul sit fourth in the standings and face high-flying Melbourne City at home next on December 10th.

Ulsan HD 0-0 Buriram United

A heavily rotated Ulsan HD side drew 0-0 at home to Buriram United, just about keeping the Horangi in the qualification places. With the K League 1 Round 38 match at home to Jeju SK very much the priority, caretaker manager Noh Sang-rae made 10 changes to the side that lost to Gwangju, with youngster Back In-woo the only player to keep their place. Ulsan will feel as though the game was theirs to win, having had 10 shots with three on target to Buriram's three, but none on target. Former Bucheon, Daejeon, and Suwon Bluewings centre back Ko Myeong-seok was part of the Buriram back line that kept a clean sheet at the Munsu. Ulsan sit sixth, just a point clear of the cut-off point, and face Machida Zelvia away next on December 9th.

AFC Champions League Two

Pohang Steelers vs. BG Pathum United

Pohang Steelers booked their place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two with a 2-0 home win over Thai side BG Pathum United. With fourth spot secured in K League 1, manager Park Tae-ha went full strength with his team selection. It was his leading marksman, Lee Ho-jae, who grabbed both of Pohang's goals, with strikes either side of half-time. Lee's first was a composed and calm finish around 12 yards out from a cutback from Shin Kwang-hoon, one touch with the left foot to control, a second with the right to find the bottom corner. His second came from a corner, nodding in Juninho Rocha's inch-perfect cross more or less on the goal line. The win creates a gap of four points with one group game left to play. The Steelers travel to the Philippines to face Kaya for Match Day 6, while Group H leaders Tampines Rovers are away to BG Pathum United. Pohang will need to win heavily against Kaya, with Tampines Rovers holding the better goal difference by three goals.

Upcoming K League in AFC Champions League Fixtures

Tuesday 9th Daecember

Machida Zelvia vs. Ulsan HD - 19:00 KST (ACLE)

Buriram United vs. Gangwon FC - 21:15 KST (ACLE)

Wednesday 10th December

FC Seoul vs. Melbourne City - 19:00 KST (ACLE)

Thursday 11th December

Kaya F.C.–Iloilo vs. Pohang Steelers - 21:15 (ACL Two)