Underdogs Gwangju FC set to duel richer, deeper Al Hilal at AFC Champions League Elite
Gwangju FC will try to add a new chapter to their underdog story when they take on a heavily favored Saudi Arabian opponent in a knockout match at the top Asian club football tournament this week.
Gwangju FC, the lone remaining K League 1 club, will face Al Hilal in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, or 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
After the two-legged round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the championship final will all be one-and-done affairs. Saudi Arabia will be the centralized host country for all remaining knockout matches, including the final on May 3.
Coached by Lee Jung-hyo, Gwangju FC have developed a reputation as a feisty team punching above their weight. In the round of 16 at the AFC tournament, they dropped the first leg against Vissel Kobe 2-0 but then won the second leg 3-0 to advance with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Al Hilal will present a whole new challenge. They are among the most decorated clubs in the world, having captured 70 official trophies, including four AFC Champions League titles before the tournament was renamed and restructured ahead of the 2024-2025 season.
Their star-studded squad features Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Following Gwangju FC's 2-1 win over FC Seoul in their most recent K League 1 match Saturday, Lee said his team will thrive on their underdog label.
"I hope a lot of people will feel inspired by watching us play," he said. "I've told my players that no matter who our opponents are, they should just go play and take on the challenge courageously. The more experience they gain, the better they will become."
In a press release issued by the club Wednesday, Lee said he felt confident in Gwangju's chances.
"I've analyzed Al Hilal and I think we are better in terms of organization," the coach said. "Football is a team sport and I believe in our team's possibilities. We really want to win the tournament, and we will keep playing our brand of football the way we always have."
Midfielder Park Tae-jun, who scored the winning goal Saturday, said he couldn't wait to face Al Hilal.
"I'm excited. I know they have some great players but I think we can more than hold our own," he said. "We may not have their individual skills but if we can battle as a team, we should be able to come away with a good result."
Gwangju FC, a city-run club with persistent financial issues, can improve their bottom line with a win this week.
By reaching the round of 16, cash-strapped Gwangju FC earned US$200,000 in prize money. They made another $400,000 by making it to the quarterfinals.
Semifinalists will receive $600,000 each. The runner-up will earn $4 million while the champion will grab $10 million.
Last season, Gwangju FC spent about 9.6 billion won in player salaries, or about $6.7 million, according to the K League. (Yonhap)
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