AFC Champions League: Ulsan Hyundai in Hard Test in Quarter-Final

Doha, December 09 (QNA) - Ulsan Hyundai are the 2020 AFC Champions League's highest scoring club, but they are far from unstoppable, according to Beijing FC's Korea Republic international defender Kim Min-jae. The two clubs will meet in an eagerly anticipated quarter-final on Thursday, with both clubs coming into the clash without tasting defeat in any of their seven matches in this year’s competition. They are two teams at the peak of their powers, but Ulsan have been particularly lethal during the centralized matches in Doha, winning all six of their fixtures in the Qatari capital and scoring multiple goals on each and every occasion. Four men - Yoon Bit-garam, Bjorn Johnsen, Junior Negrao and Kim In-sung - have contributed 12 goals between them but Kim, Beijing's top defender and a two-time K League champion with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, feels no fear ahead of the clash with his countrymen. "I know Ulsan Hyundai very well," said the 24-year-old, whose nickname Monster owes much to his 190-centimetre frame. "I have played against them a number of times, so I have been able to share my experience with my teammates and we have had discussions together about how to defend against them. Well also listen well to the coach’s instructions on how to do so." While Kim and Beijing are tasked with stopping Ulsan, the K League outfit are faced with the equally imposing task of finding a way past a defense which has impressively been marshalled by one of Korea Republic's key defensive prospects. Beijing have conceded just twice in their last four matches and, with Kim turning in a superb performance, kept FC Tokyo to just one shot on target last time out. Ulsan Hyundai right-back Kim Tae-hwan has seen Kim close in national team camps, and while he respects his compatriot's ability, he backed the Korean team to prevail against one of the nation’s highest-rated individuals on Thursday. "I played with him in the national team and I’ve also had a lot of experience of playing against him before," said Kim Tae-hwan, who spent a week in precautionary quarantine earlier in the tournament after participating in a national team camp in Austria. I agree, he’s a really good player, but he's also in a really great team with lots of good players. The game is not about one against one, it’s about team against team and if we can dominate the game as a team, Im sure that we will have a great result." Beijing FC will face Ulsan Hyundai at Qatar’s Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday, with the winners to advance to Sundays AFC Champions League (East) semi-final against either Vissel Kobe or Suwon Samsung Bluewings. (QNA)