Harry Kewell says his Yokohama F-Marinos team must be more clinical if they are to reach the Asian Champions League final after a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the semi-finals.
The Japanese team hosts Ulsan Hyundai in the second leg next Wednesday, with the South Koreans ahead thanks to Lee Dong-gyeong’s goal in the 19th minute.
Yokohama is in the semi-finals of Asia’s main club competition for the first time.
Former Liverpool and Leeds star Kewell saw his team create several chances at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.
But they failed to score despite having 18 shots, while the hosts were a constant threat on the counterattack.
“I thought we did extremely well, I felt we dominated the game,” said Kewell, who replaced fellow Australian Kevin Muscat as Yokohama coach at the start of the year.
“Yes, they had opportunities, but I felt those opportunities came from our own kind of mistakes,” the former international striker said, citing the Asian Football Confederation website.
Kewell felt that South Korean international goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo kept Ulsan in it.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t score as we had enough opportunities,” Kewell said.
“These chances were not lucky, they were well worked. Ulsan’s goalkeeper is fantastic, he made some saves.
“But we have to be more clinical.”
The winner of Yokohama and Ulsan will face Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia or Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the two-legged final next month.
Al Ain won 4-2 at home in the first leg of the semi-finals, with Moroccan striker Soufiane Rahimi scoring three goals.
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