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Korean footballers go 'Gangnam Style' after winning Asian title

updated 12:36 PM EST, Sat November 10, 2012
Ulsan Hyundai players perform the horse-riding dance of Psy's worldwide pop hit "Gangnam Style" after winning the AFC Champions League football final against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli. Ulsan Hyundai players perform the horse-riding dance of Psy's worldwide pop hit "Gangnam Style" after winning the AFC Champions League football final against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli.
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Gangnam Style
First final, first title
Leading from the front
Savor the moment
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Ulsan Hyundai earn place at FIFA Club World Cup by winning Asian title
  • K-League team beats Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 3-0 in Champions League final
  • Third time in four years that a Korean club has won the final
  • Ulsan won all nine games but battling to qualify for next season's tournament

(CNN) -- South Korean singer Psy has conquered the world with his "Gangnam Style" hit -- and his country continued its dominance of Asian club football on Saturday.

Ulsan Hyundai's players celebrated by performing a victory dance in homage to the pop phenomenon after winning the region's Champions League title for the first time.

Ulsan defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 3-0 to become the third K-League team in four years to lift the trophy.

"Ulsan have had to wait for a long time to come to final so I told the players we must win the game and to do that we must play a normal game," coach Kim Ho-gon said after goals from captain Kwak Tae-hwi, Brazilian striker Rafinha and midfielder Kim Seung-yong completed a run of nine successive wins in the competition.

Fabrice Muamba wept as he addressed the crowd at White Hart Lane -- the English soccer ground where he collapsed due to cardiac arrest during a match in March. Fabrice Muamba wept as he addressed the crowd at White Hart Lane -- the English soccer ground where he collapsed due to cardiac arrest during a match in March.
Closure for Muamba
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Like Alex Ferguson, sculptor Philip Jackson was born in Scotland. Here he is pictured working on The Bomber Command Memorial Sculpture, which is situated in London's Green Park, and was unveiled by the Queen in June. Like Alex Ferguson, sculptor Philip Jackson was born in Scotland. Here he is pictured working on The Bomber Command Memorial Sculpture, which is situated in London's Green Park, and was unveiled by the Queen in June.
Fellow Scots
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The 2011-12 Egyptian revolution thrust an unlikely group of young people into the country's political conscience: organized groups of soccer fans called "ultras." The 2011-12 Egyptian revolution thrust an unlikely group of young people into the country's political conscience: organized groups of soccer fans called "ultras."
Ultra culture
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"After the first group game every game felt like a final, but the final did not feel like a final as we had done so well in the semifinal."

The victory at Ulsan's Munsu Stadium earned the club a place at December's Club World Cup in Japan, with a quarterfinal tie against Mexico's Monterrey.

"I am so happy for the players," Kim said on the Asian Football Confederation website. "They wanted to play in the FIFA Club World Cup and it is the same for me. This is the happiest day in my coaching career."

Al Ahli had reached the final for the first time in the tournament's present format, though the club lost in the title match of the 1986 competition when it was known as the Asian Club Championship.

"The team learned a lot this year by playing against different strong teams," said Ahli's Czech coach Karel Jarolim.

"Al Ahli is a very young team and these players have gained experience this season and they will work hard for next year and will try to do our best."

His team booked a place in next year's tournament by finishing second in the Saudi league, but Ulsan may miss out after dropping outside the K-League's qualification places.

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