Pohang’s Kim Tae-su celebrates his goal. (Yonhap News)
OSAKA, Japan (AP) ― Three-time continental champion Pohang Steelers opened the 2012 Asian Champions League group stage with a convincing 3-0 away win over 2008 winners Gamba Osaka on Tuesday.
In Group F, FC Tokyo won 2-0 away at Brisbane and Ulsan held off Beijing Guoan 2-1 at home. Bani Yas of the United Arab Emirates made an impressive start, beating Qatari Al Arabi 2-0 in a Group B match. The other UAE club, Al Jazira, had its Group A match at Nasaf of Uzbekistan postponed because of snow.
In Osaka, Pohang’s Kim Tae-su opened the scoring with a 19th-minute header in the Group E match and Zoran Rendulic made it 2-0 for the powerful South Korean club three minutes later when goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya’s attempted clearance hit the Serbian defender and deflected into goal. Veteran Ghana forward Derek Asamoah put the result beyond doubt for Pohang in the 79th minute.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
