Ulsan Hyundai became the third K-League club in four years to be crowned Asian champions with a 3-0 win over Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the final of the AFC Champions League 2012 at Ulsan Munsu Stadium on Saturday.
Kwak Tae-Hwi put last year’s K-League Cup winners in the lead with a powerful header off a Kim Seung-yong freekick in the 13th minute. Al Ahli keeper Abdullah Al Muaiof had no other option than conceding the early goal.
Rafinha increased the lead in front of a partisan home crowd in the 67th minute, when the Brazilian received a cross from Colombian midfielder Juan Estiven Velez and slotted home for the Korean side.
Kim Seung-yong made it 3-0 with a low left-foot drive past Al Muaiof just eight minutes later and sealed the win for Ulsan Hyundai.
The Korean secured their first-ever continental title and put the 42,153 fans at the Ulsan Munsu Stadium into raptures.