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Played
December 9, 2012 7:00 AM GMT
Toyota Stadium — Toyota
Referee:‬ C. Çakιr‎
Attendance:‬ 20353‎
 

Ulsan Hyundai - Monterrey Preview: Continental champions vie for historic showdown with Chelsea

First-time competitors Ulsan Hyundai are well-rested ahead of the Sunday-afternoon match-up, but Monterrey are looking for redemption after last year's early exit

By Dan Orlowitz

Kim Seung-Yong, Ulsan v Al Ahly (ACL)
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

ULSAN HYUNDAI

Kim YK
Lee Yong, Lee JS, Kwak TH, Kim YS
Estiven, Lee Ho
Rafinha, Lee KH, Kim SY
Kim SW
MONTERREY

Orozco
Pérez, Basanta, Mier, Chávez
Cardozo, Ayoví, Morales, Delgado

De Nigris, Suazo

Ulsan Hyundai are hoping to become the third straight AFC representative to face the European champions in Club World Cup play, while Monterrey are hoping for a better finish than last year's edition.

The two-time Concacaf champions will bring a diverse attacking style to Toyota Stadium and are prepared to push forward from the center of the pitch or spread out to the wings and set up crosses for Humberto Suazo and Aldo de Nigris.

The Mexican side are well aware of how formidable Asian clubs can be after falling to Japanese representatives Kashiwa Reysol on penalties last year, and should be more prepared this time around.

"We didn't get through and that was a failure for us," manager Victor Vucetich said in his press conference. "We could have beaten Kashiwa and we had a lot of chances to do so.

"The players are more seasoned, more experienced now. We know exactly what it means and how we have to approach games, to play them our way."

Opponents Ulsan are expected to be in good condition as manager Kim Ho-Gon has rested most of his star players since winning the Asian Champions League in early November. Yet despite playing with many second-stringers, they still managed to win their last two K-League fixtures.

"I'm impressed at how Monterrey presses when they lose the ball in the final third," Kim said in his arrival press conference. "If we can't overcome this it will be difficult for us.

"The CWC is a higher class of competition than the ACL, but the difference between club teams isn't as great as the difference between national teams.

"I told the players to be confident because we're representing Korea and Asia. I believe they can do well."

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Ulsan Hyundai became known as the Gangsters of Asia in 2006 after winning three international fixtures by an aggregate score of 16-0.

  • The Horang-i ('tiger' in Korean) captured the Asian Champions League title with a 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli.
  • Both Lee Keun-Ho and Rafinha previously played for Japan's Gamba Osaka, who participated in the 2007 Club World Cup as Asian champions.
  • Monterrey play at Estadio Tecnologico, the second-oldest stadium in Mexico. They are scheduled to open their new home, the Estadio de Futbol Monterrey, in 2014.
  • They are the first side to win consecutive CONCACAF Champions League titles since the format was revised in 2008.
  • Manager Victor Vucetich (pictured) has won 12 of 13 finals he has contested.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
Club World Cup ‎(CWC)‎ Dec 9, 2012 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 1 - Monterrey 3
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Horangi £4010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Draw £510.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Monterrey £22.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Team News
Available Squads
21Young-Kwang KimGoalkeeper
-Yong LeeDefender
-Tae-Hwi KwakDefender
-Chi-Gon KimDefender
-Ho LeeMidfielder
-Seung-Yong KimMidfielder
-Young-Sam KimMidfielder
-J. VélezMidfielder
-Shin-Wook KimStriker
-RafinhaStriker
9Keun-Ho LeeMidfielder
-Seung-Gyu KimGoalkeeper
-Hong-Seok JeonGoalkeeper
-Ju-Sang LeeDefender
-Bo-Kyung ChoiDefender
2Chang-Woo LimDefender
-Jin-Ouk KangDefender
-Chang-Hyeon KoMidfielder
-Dong-Suk KimMidfielder
-Seul-Ki GoMidfielder
-Jin-Soo ChoiMidfielder
-MaranhaoStriker
1Jonathan Emmanuel OrozcoGoalkeeper
2S. MezaDefender
5D. ChavezDefender
15José María BasantaDefender
21H. MierDefender
24S. PérezDefender
20Walter AyovíMidfielder
68J. CoronaMidfielder
18Neri Raúl CardozoMidfielder
9A. De NigrisStriker
19César Fabián DelgadoMidfielder
-Jesús Alejandro Dautt RamírezGoalkeeper
23Juan de Dios IbarraGoalkeeper
-L. LópezDefender
4Ricardo OsorioDefender
6Héctor Miguel MoralesMidfielder
-E. SolísMidfielder
-Oscar Sebastián Garcia CarmonaDefender
-G. MorenoDefender
-G. MadrigalStriker
-A. CarreñoStriker
26H. SuazoStriker
-S. JassoStriker
Players to Watch
Keun-Ho Lee
Keun-Ho Lee
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 9
Games Goals YC RC
2 1 0 0
The 27-year-old was named the MVP of the K-League, Asian Champions League, and Asia; this tournament will be his last hurrah before entering military service and the energetic attacker will often be the point of the Ulsan spear.
H. Suazo
H. Suazo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 26
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
He's the club's top scorer with 100 goals in all competitions, but this time the 31-year-old Chilean national team member has plenty to prove after last year's disappointing result. Dangerous from any distance, Suazo is a force to be reckoned with.
Prediction
With the afternoon sun still shining on Toyota Stadium, this match should offer more goals than Thursday night's play-off. Ulsan are in better form and capable of outlasting Monterrey in a shoot-out, and the recent dismissal of problematic midfielder Angel Reyna won't do the American representatives any favours.
Editor's Prediction
Results
Quarter Finals
Times In GMT
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
César Fabián Delgado César Fabián Delgado
Midfielder
Monterrey
3 0
Hisato Sato Hisato Sato
Striker
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
3 0
Paolo Guerrero Paolo Guerrero
Striker
Corinthians
2 0
J. Corona J. Corona
Midfielder
Monterrey
2 0
Fernando Torres Fernando Torres
Striker
Chelsea
1 0