Singapore's Lion City Sailors stun South Korean powerhouses Jeonbuk in Asian Champions League

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Lion City Sailors scored a shocking win over South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League (ACL) on Wednesday (Nov 8).

The Sailors beat the two-time ACL winners 2-0 in the Group F showdown at the Jalan Besar Stadium, in what was sweet revenge after losing to the same opponents 3-0 just a fortnight earlier.

Forward Richairo Zivkovic found the target in the 23rd minute to help the hosts to a 1-0 half-time lead.

Ten minutes after the break, he scored another, with the assist again coming from Shawal Anuar.

The visitors nearly found a lifeline back into the game late on, when the referee awarded Jeonbuk a spot-kick after a foul by the Sailors in the penalty box. 

But Jeonbuk striker Gustavo Henrique da Silva Sousa fired the ball high and wide.

The upset victory put the Sailors, which finished second in the Singapore Premier League in the 2023 season, back in contention for a place in the next stage of Asia's top club football competition.

They are now third in Group F, level on six points with Jeonbuk, and six points behind leaders Bangkok United.

The top teams from each group along with the three best second-placed teams from each zone will advance to the round of 16.

Jeonbuk, who are currently fourth in the K-League, won the Asian Champions League in 2006 and 2016. They also won the K-League on nine occasions.