Ulsan Hyundai Beat Iran's Persepolis to Become 12th K-League Team to be Crowned Asian Champions

Ulsan Hyundai reasserted East Asian dominance with victory in the Asian Champions League final but, as the trophy was packed up for the journey to South Korea, it was Qatar who emerged as the major winners of the heavily disrupted competition. Ulsan’s 2-1 win over Iran’s Persepolis in Doha on Saturday marked the 12th time a K-League team had been crowned Asian champions, and the eighth in the last nine years from the eastern half of the confederation to secure the title. Al Hilal’s win last year interrupted East Asia’s dominance and the Saudi Arabian side also threatened to dictate the narrative of the 2020 edition, though this time because of their early exit. We learnt so many lessons.” ‘KEPT ASIAN FOOTBALL ALIVE’ Those experiences carried into the hosting of the eastern side of the competition in November and December, dates which closely matched those when Qatar will host the World Cup finals in two years’ time. “I think as players we consume less energy and we sweat less, which can make our body react better during the game and keep us in a condition to play all the time.” In a year when many of its tournaments were cancelled, the Asian Football Confederation needed to ensure its premier club competition was completed to limit potentially damaging compensation claims from broadcasters and commercial partners.