Daegu: Daegu FC powered to a 3-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai FC in the second leg of the 2018 Korea Football Association (FA) Cup, clinching the title 5-1 on aggregate on Saturday.
Three second half goals secured Daegu their first ever honour since being founded in 2002.
Daegu, led by Brazilian head coach Andre Luiz Alves Santos, will now make their debut appearance in the 2019 AFC Champions League. They will be in Group F, facing Chinese Super League runners-up Guangzhou Evergrande, Australian A-League final series winners Melbourne Victory and a winner from the play-offs.
Ulsan, managed by head coach Kim Do-hoon, were hoping to defend the FA Cup. They secured a playoff spot in the 2019 AFC Champions League by finishing third in the K League 1 this season but could have advanced directly to the group stage if they had won the FA Cup.
After finishing scoreless in the first half, Daegu opened the scoring through Kim Dae-won's strike in the 59th. Following a bad clearance from Ulsan's Lee Chang-yong in the box, Kim blasted a left-footed shot in for the lead.
Cesinha then doubled the advantage for the hosts in the 76th. Ulsan midfielder Park Yong-woo failed to control a goal kick from Jo and the ball went to Cesinha, who easily found the back of the net with his right-footed shot.
Edgar stepped up to seal victory for Daegu in the closing seconds, with the 31-year-old Brazilian striker dribbling past Park and chipping the ball home from a tight angle in the 89th.
Sources: Korea Football Association, Yonhap News
Source: the-afc.com