Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic’s FC Seoul and defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia shared a goalless finish at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Group H of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday evening, although the visitors had enough chances late in the game to take all three points.
For most of the 90 minutes, opportunities were at a premium in this repeat of the 2014 semi-final, but with full-time in sight; the Australians went close through Labinot Haliti and Kerem Bulut.
But after failing to find a breakthrough, the result leaves both teams on four points after the first three games of the group stage.
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The first chance of the game and the best of the first half fell to the hosts after 16 minutes as Jung Jo-gook's cross from the left side of the six yard ricocheted off two Western Sydney defenders and fell to Mauricio Molina standing in space to the right side of the penalty spot, but the Colombian’s left-footed curled effort cleared the right side of the Australian crossbar.
Western Sydney’s first real attempt came just after the half hour as Haliti collected possession inside his own half and was allowed to advance unchallenged down the middle of the pitch to within sight of the FC Seoul goal, but his shot sailed high above Yu Sang-hun’s head.
FC Seoul goalkeeper Yu, though, had to be quick to react five minutes before the break to clear an under hit Kim Jin-kyu backpass that was almost intercepted by Bulut before the half ended with Molina volleying a difficult Cha Du-ri cross over from just outside the six yard area.
The second half continued in the same vein until just after the hour mark when the visitors came within a whisker of taking the lead as Haliti collected the ball from Yojiro Takahagi just outside the area and let fly with a shot that beat the diving goalkeeper but bounced back off the FC Seoul crossbar.
Western Sydney came close once again on the 70th minute mark as Romeo Castelen cut inside from the right and burst into the area, but the Dutchman's initial shot from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by Lee Woong-hee.
Bulut's follow-up effort was also stopped, and when the ball fell once again to Castelen, the Dutchman could only find the side netting from close range.
Bulut came the closest to taking the three points four minutes from time as the striker muscled his way past Kim, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, his low shot only found the legs of Yu.
Photo: WSG