Pohang Steelers failed to achieve their first win of the season in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE), unable to overcome numerical inferiority.
Pohang gave up two goals to Marcus Guilhermi and lost 0-2 in the home game of the second leg of the 2026-2027 AFC Champions League Elite League stage against Johor Darul Taksim (Malaysia) held at Pohang Steel Yard on the 13th.
As a result, Pohang, who had fallen 1-3 in the first away game against Beijing FC (China) on the 15th of last month, suffered two consecutive losses.
Johor, who drew 1-1 in the first game against Buriram United (Thailand), remained undefeated with 1 win and 1 draw (4 points).
On this day, Pohang played its home game for the first time in about two months since the K League 1 Ulsan HD match on August 8 at the Pohang Steel Yard, where detailed safety diagnosis and repair work were completed.
Pohang faced Johor with an elite starting lineup that included strikers Giorgi, Transiska, and Juninho, midfielders Ki Sung-yueng and Kim Dong-jin, and defender Wandelsson.
However, they lost throughout the game to Johor, the strongest team in the Malaysian league.
In the 32nd minute of the first half, they allowed a headed goal to Kevin Medina, but the score was canceled due to Shahab Zahedi's interference in the goalkeeper's defense, which was heartbreaking.
In the extra time of the first half, defender Jeon Min-kwang was sent off.
Jeon Min-kwang, who did not handle the ball properly, committed a foul on striker Zahedi, and was initially given a warning and then a penalty kick was declared.
After the video review, the foul area was changed to inside the penalty arc, so the penalty kick was canceled and a free kick was awarded. However, the color of Jeon Min-kwang's card, which blocked an obvious scoring opportunity, changed to red.
Fortunately, Arif Ahriman's free kick was blocked by the defensive wall, and the first half ended without conceding a goal.
Pohang, who entered the second half with Jin Si-woo and Kim Seung-ho instead of Transiska and Ki Sung-yong, gave up the first goal in 4 minutes.
Zahedi stabbed the ball from the front of the penalty area and Guilhermi slipped into the left side of the goal area and finished with his left foot.
Pohang was in a hurry to make up for it, but instead collapsed after being hit by a key goal from Guilhermi in the 44th minute of the second half.
Daejeon Hana Citizen drew 1-1 in the away game against Shanghai Haigang (China) held at Pudong Stadium in Shanghai, China.
Against the powerhouse Shanghai, who recently won their third consecutive Chinese Super League title, they shared one point each in the enemy camp.
As a result, Daejeon, which defeated Kyoto Sanga (Japan) 1-0 last month and made its ACLE debut a comeback stage in Asian club competitions 23 years after the 2002-2003 season, recorded 4 points with 1 win and 1 draw.
Daejeon started the game with some key players, including Joo Min-gyu, Masa, and Eom Won-sang, sitting on the bench.
Daejeon, who finished the first half scoreless, allowed Shanghai's Prince Ampem to score the first goal with a left-footed shot from the center of the penalty area in the 4th minute of the second half.
However, in the 9th minute of the second half, Diogo rushed to the goal and headed home a cross from the opponent's right side by Jeong Jae-hee, regaining balance.
Afterwards, in the 17th minute of the second half, Daejeon replaced Diogo, Joao Victor, and Jeong Jae-hee and brought in Joo Min-gyu, Eom Won-sang, and Rubikson to reorganize their offensive line and aim for an additional goal.
In the 33rd minute of the second half, they attempted to turn things around by replacing Seo Jin-su with Massa, but neither team could score any more points.
