Professional soccer’s K League 1 Gwangju FC has earned the club’s first ever ticket to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) in its first season of promotion.Gwangju played a goalless draw against Pohang Steelers in their final 38th round home match of the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 at the Gwangju Football Stadium on Wednesday.With 16 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses, Gwangju’s points total rose to 59.At the same time, fifth-placed Incheon United (14 wins, 14 draws, 10 losses, 56 points) lost to sixth-placed Daegu FC (13 wins, 14 draws, 11 losses, 53 points), eliminating any chance of moving up the standings, and Gwangju secured at least fourth place.Professional soccer K League 1 side Gwangju FC has become the first club in history to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) in its first season of promotion.Gwangju played a goalless draw against Pohang Steelers in their final 38th round home match of the Hana OneQ K League 2023 at the Gwangju Football Stadium on Wednesday.With 16 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses, Gwangju’s points total rose to 59.At the same time, fifth-place Incheon United (14 wins, 14 draws, 10 losses – 56 points) lost to sixth-place Daegu FC (13 wins, 14 draws, 11 losses – 53 points), eliminating any chance of moving up the standings, and Gwangju secured at least fourth place.Final runner-up Pohang (16 wins, 16 draws, 6 losses – 64 points) enters the ACLE as the FA Cup winner. As a result, the third-place finisher will head to the ACLE PO and the fourth-place finisher to the ACL2, with Gwangju taking one of those spots.In addition, Gwangju has achieved the highest ranking and win total in the club’s history in the first division.

Prior to this season, Gwangju’s best finish in the first division was sixth in the 2020 season (which ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic), and its most wins in a season was 11 in 2016 (eighth).Gwangju received a boost when Pohang’s Lee Ho-jae was sent off just eight minutes into the match. Lee stretched his foot too high during a contest, causing Lee Soon-min to fall, and the referee immediately showed a red card.However, the team had to swallow their disappointment as their subsequent scoring chances were blocked by Pohang goalkeeper Hwang In-Jae.Hwang In-jae, who saved Heo Yul’s sharp headers in the 39th and 41st minutes of the first half, also saved Ha Seung-woon’s shot from the corner of the net 15 minutes into the second half.Jeong Ho-yeon tried his luck with a right-footed curling shot from outside the box in the 33rd minute, but it only hit the post and sent Gwangju players to the ground.Daegu earned a share of the spoils as they beat Incheon 2-1 at home in the final game of the season and Lee Geun-ho’s “farewell” match.Brazilian striker Edgar exploded for his eighth and ninth goals of the season to become the number one contributor to Daegu’s victory.In the 40th minute, Edgar headed home a cross from Hong Chul on the flank and ran straight to Lee Geun-ho to share his joy.The veteran striker would be the last to leave the field.With momentum on his side, Edgar rattled the Incheon net again in the 11th minute of the second half, finishing off a cross from Hong Chul with a header.Incheon pulled a goal back 18 minutes later when Hernandez scored a surprise mid-range shot off a pass from 온라인카지노 Hong Si-Hoo, but it was not enough to put the game out of reach.