On Tuesday, South Korea's Gangwon celebrated their first-ever AFC Champions League Elite victory, edging the Chinese mainland club Shanghai Shenhua 2-1 at home.
The match got off to a nervy start. With the domestic title race looming, Shanghai rested several regulars in their lineup, opening the door for Gangwon to press early. A golden chance arrived in the 23rd minute, but Vitor Gabriel's shot slipped past precision and was cleared by goalkeeper Bao Yaxiong.
Shanghai Shenhua struck first against the run of play, just before halftime. Midfielder Gao Tianyi threaded a precise through ball to Joao Teixeira, who curled the ball into the top corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Determined to make history in their competition debut, Gangwon flipped the script in the second half. In the 54th minute, veteran Hong Chul unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box to level the score. Nine minutes later, relentless pressure paid off again: a scramble in the Shanghai penalty area saw Gu Bon-cheol pounce on a loose ball and fire home the winner, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Despite late efforts, Shanghai Shenhua could not find an equalizer, leaving Gangwon to savor a milestone victory that sets them up for a spirited Champions League run. For fans tracking rising teams in Asia's top club competition, Gangwon's debut win provides a thrilling taste of what's to come.
Reference(s):
Gangwon beat Shanghai Shenhua 2-1 for first AFC Champions League win
cgtn.com
