Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Seoul: Yun Il-lok scored once and provided an assist as K-League champions FC Seoul secured a third AFC Champions League quarter-final appearance in five years after recording a 3-1 comeback win over China’s Beijing Guoan on Tuesday.
Frederic Kanoute’s ninth minute opener had given Group G runners-up Beijing hope of a first quarter-final appearance following last week’s goalless draw in China.
But despite Dejan Damjanovic missing a penalty for the home side on the hour mark, Brazilian defender Adilson (Adilson dos Santos) turned home Yun’s cross following an error from Beijing goalkeeper Yang Zhi soon after before the midfielder completed the comeback with 20 minutes remaining.
And after Beijing duo Kanoute and Zhang Xinxin as well as Adilson were sent-off inside the final quarter of an hour, Koh Myong-jin sealed the win in stoppage time as FC Seoul extended their perfect record of reaching the quarter-finals in all three of their appearances in the AFC Champions League.
“Our performance in the second half was remarkable,” said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.
“We were 1-0 down in the first half but I always believed in the players.
“We have a lot of experienced players and we have a lot of excellent technical players and the chance to become Asian champion motivates these players even more.
“The big challenge begins now and we will prepare well to ensure we finish on top.”
Having failed to make use of a numerical advantage in the final 30 minutes of last week’s first leg, Beijing needed just nine minutes of the return fixture to open the scoring as Kim Chi-woo’s attempted header back to goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae lacked power and Kanoute took full advantage with a composed finish off the inside the far post.
But after FC Seoul recovered from a slow start, the home side were denied an equaliser eight minutes before half-time as visiting goalkeeper Yang produced a superb reaction save to push Ha Dae-sung’s point blank header from Damjanovic’s cross over the crossbar.
FC Seoul continued to press at the start of the second half as Damjanovic first directed a free header over the crossbar before Yang had to be on his toes to push a low drive from Mauricio Molina around the post.
And FC Seoul were handed a chance to draw level on the hour mark as Molina was felled by Zhang inside the area only for Damjanovic to hit the foot of the post with the resulting penalty.
But FC Seoul were back on level terms just three minutes later as Adilson tapped into an empty net after Yang failed to hold Yun’s low left wing cross.
And seven minutes later the home side completed the comeback as Yun capitalised on a moment’s hesitation inside the Beijing penalty area and the midfielder took full advantage to lash an unstoppable effort past Yang.
Beijing’s hopes were dealt a further blow with 11 minutes remaining as Kanoute picked up a second yellow card in quick succession.
The home side failed to make use of their advantage to increase their lead in the closing stages, although FC Seoul’s night ended on a low note as Adilson was also handed a second yellow card with three minutes remaining.
Beijing, though, would end the match with just nine men as Zhang followed both Kanoute and Adilson down the tunnel after adding to the caution he received after giving away the second half penalty.
And Koh sealed FC Seoul’s passage into the last eight for a third time as the midfielder fired home in stoppage time.“We played well in the first half, but in the second half we lost concentration which meant the result at the end was not good,” said Beijing coach Aleksandar Stanojevic.
“FC Seoul made use of home advantage and I can’t blame the players. I was forced into making some substitutions due to injuries but after that we had some mistakes and the players were unable to respond. Our last league game also affected the players, but overall it is a good experience for the young players.
“We wanted to make history but we were unsuccessful even through there was not a big difference between ourselves and FC Seoul.
“We were close to qualifying for the quarter-finals which would have been our best achievement in the AFC Champions League. But we showed what we are capable of and we are not far behind the Korean teams.
“We will now concentrate on the league and challenge again in the 2014 AFC Champions League.”
Photo: WSG