Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay, who has defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai twice, noted that the tactical changes made at halftime were successful.

Jeonbuk Hyundai faced Sydney FC in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2 on the 13th at 5 p.m. (Korea time) in Sydney, Australia, and lost 2-3.

Having lost 0-2 in the first leg held on the 6th at Yongin Mir Stadium, a victory was essential for advancing to the semifinals. Fortunately, starting player Jeon Jin-woo scored two goals, leveling the aggregate score at 2-2, but the team collapsed after allowing consecutive goals. Jeonbuk failed to advance to the semifinals with an aggregate score of 2-5.

Jeonbuk started with a 4-3-3 formation. Jeon Jin-woo, Park Jae-yong, and Jeon Byeong-gwan aimed to score, while Lee Yong-jae, Boateng, and Kim Jin-kyu filled the midfield. Choi Cheol-soon, Park Jin-seob, Yeon Je-woon, and Kim Tae-hyun formed the back four, with Kim Jung-hoon in goal.

Kim Young-bin, Choi Woo-jin, Lee Seung-woo, Kang Sang-yun, Ahn Hyun-beom, Jin Tae-ho, Kwon Chang-hoon, and Gong Si-hyun were on the bench. Starting striker Compagno, along with veterans Korean-young and Kim Tae-hwan, remained in Korea to rest.

Sydney lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Klimala played at the front, while Anthony Caceres, Douglas Costa, and Joe Lolley formed the attacking midfield. Gamijo and Leo Senna anchored the midfield, and Courtney Perkins, Alex Grant, Ryan Grant, and Joel King made up the back four. Debruni Miers donned the goalkeeper gloves. Sydney fielded the same starting lineup as in the first leg.

Jeonbuk took the lead with Jeon Jin-woo's goal in the 35th minute of the first half, and he added another goal in stoppage time, leading 2-0. However, they conceded a goal to Alex Grant in the 15th minute of the second half, followed by goals from Klimala in the 26th minute and a penalty kick from Douglas Costa in the 35th minute, resulting in a 2-3 reversal.

There were disappointing moments, such as the cancellation of Ahn Hyun-beom's goal due to VAR review. Ultimately, Jeonbuk failed to add any more goals and thus failed to advance to the semifinals of the AFC Champions League 2.

After the match, Sydney coach Ufuk Talay spoke about the difficulties faced in the first half. He stated, "Football has a first half and a second half. The first half was not good, but we managed to win 2-0 away, so we tried to maintain the lead. That's why we may have played passively in the first half."

He continued, "In the second half, injecting energy through substitutions and trying to dominate the game with new players yielded results." He added, "This is the first match of the season at home where we scored three goals. We seized the opportunity well. Overall, it was not completely satisfying, but it was a generally satisfactory match."

He added, "We resolved what was blocked in the first half with solutions in the second half. That's why Jeonbuk is one of the top teams in Asia. I am satisfied."

He also spoke about the impressive performance of Douglas Costa. Talay explained, "As you know, he is a good player. He is a difference-maker. I instructed the teammates to find out where Costa is. We also discuss and work on that aspect with the staff."

[OSEN = Sydney, Australia, reporter Jeong Seung-woo]