Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kashiwa: Suwon Samsung coach Seo Jung-won has insisted his side have not given up hope of progression to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals as the two-time continental champions seek to overturn a 3-2 deficit in Tuesday’s meeting with J.League side Kashiwa Reysol in the Round of 16.
A double from Brazilian forward Leandro and an Akimi Barada strike enabled play-off qualifiers Kashiwa to recover from an early Yeom Ki-hun goal at Suwon World Cup Stadium last week, although Seo’s side finished the thrilling contest strongly and reduced the deficit through DPR Korea striker Jong Tae-se.
And with the action switching to Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium for the return meeting, Seo is adamant that Suwon remain firmly in the hunt for a return to the last eight for the first time since reaching the 2011 semi-finals.
“We lost the first leg, so it is a very difficult match but we haven’t given up and we still believe we have a chance to advance past the Round of 16 and into the next stage of the tournament,” said Suwon coach Seo.
“Nobody can know the outcome of the game until the referee has blown his final whistle. We can score one or two goals in just 10 minutes, that’s the beauty of football.
“We have prepared to our maximum to win this game and get the result we need to make it to the quarter-finals.”
The two sides met in Japan two years ago in the group stage of the 2013 continental competition with Suwon sharing a goalless stalemate with Kashiwa when they traveled to Chiba Prefecture.
However, that tie came on the back of a crushing 6-2 defeat in Suwon to the Japanese club, the low point of a disappointing campaign for the 2001 and 2002 Asian Club Championship winners that saw them finish bottom of their group.
The 2015 season has, so far, proved more positive both on the continent and domestically.
Comfortable progression from the AFC Champions League group with a game to spare has been matched with good form at home.
Seo’s side currently sit second behind early pacesetters Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the K-League Classic table.
Suwon are some way adrift, however, 11 points behind their fellow Round of 16 side, although they have played a game less.
Photo: WSG