Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Coach Choi Yong-soo was left to lament FC Seoul’s lack of firepower after their 0-0 draw at home to Western Sydney Wanderers on Wednesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in a vital AFC Champions League Group H clash.
The hosts struggled to create chances against the continental title holders and the stalemate leaves both teams on four points after three games in Group H.
FC Seoul, though, will soon have a chance to make amends with the return fixture – which is a re-match of the 2014 semi-finals – taking place in Sydney in two weeks.
Match report: FC Seoul 0-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
“This was a very important game,” said Choi. “The players tried their best, but of course, to take just one point in front of your own fans is not satisfactory.
“After not managing to score, I think that our strikers are too impatient when near goal. We also had the goalkeeper to thank for making saves at decisive moments. In the return match, we will endeavour to do all we can to win the game.”
It was a game that was as tight as expected between two teams that met at the semi-final stage of the 2014 tournament.
In the second half however, Western Sydney went the closest to finding a breakthrough as Labinot Haliti saw his well-struck effort cannon back off the FC Seoul crossbar and in the final minutes, Kerem Bulut could only shoot straight at the legs of goalkeeper Yu Sang-hun when through on goal.
“They are a team that defends well and gives you little space,” added Choi. “If the players can lose their anxiety about scoring goals and approach it calmly, then they can get good opportunities.”
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic, meanwhile, was pleased to return home with a point having also claimed a goalless draw at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the first leg of last year’s semi-final.
“To get a point away from home is a positive result. I thought we had enough chances to win the game, but we will take the draw and go home and get ready for the next game. We will re-group and recover and we have a massive game at the weekend,” said Popovic with his side set to face Newcastle Jets in the A-League on Saturday.
“We have had lots of obstacles with injured players and the schedule, but we will just get on with it. We lost Matthew Spiranovic to injury in the first half.
“We showed great character. My players gave a performance full of pride and in the home game too, we do our best to show more of what we can do.”
Photo: WSG