Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Brazilian Adriano took his AFC Champions League tally to seven goals in just two games after netting a second consecutive hat-trick on Tuesday as Korea Republic’s FC Seoul posted a 4-1 comeback win over Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Seoul World Cup Stadium as Choi Yong-soo’s side maintained their 100% record in Group F.
Kazuhiko Chiba opened the scoring for Sanfrecce midway through the first half only for Kim Won-sik to equalise for FC Seoul, who beat Thailand’s Buriram United 6-0 last week thanks to four goals from AFC Champions League debutant Adriano, before half-time.
And with Adriano netting three times in the first 20 minutes of the second half, 2013 finalists FC Seoul claimed a second consecutive win, while Sanfrecce suffered back-to-back defeats having also taken the lead at home to China’s Shandong Luneng last week.
“We scored four goals, but we also defended very well. We cut off their supply and Hiroshima were not able to the play the game they wanted to play and that is very satisfactory for a coach. In the second half we controlled the game and it is obviously very pleasing to defeat a team at Hiroshima's level,” said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.
“I want to praise Adriano for his goals, but it is a team effort. The movement of his team-mates and the work everyone does for the team makes it possible to score goals.
“Next we play Shandong Luneng and we know they have some good players and are a strong team, but we will approach the game with confidence.”
Seeking to bounce back from last week’s 2-1 loss at home to Shandong, Sanfrecce made a bright start as Gakuto Notsuda shot over from the corner of the penalty area following Takuma Asano’s pull back.
FC Seoul’s Dejan Damjanovic then stabbed the ball just wide for the home side soon after following good work from former Sanfrecce midfielder Yojiro Takahagi.
But it was the visitors who took the lead after 25 minutes with a simple set piece as Kohei Shimizu swung in an inviting free-kick from the left for Chiba to climb above Osmar Barba and head firmly into the left corner of the FC Seoul net.
But the lead lasted just seven minutes as Sanfrecce failed to clear a Sin Jin-ho corner that made its way to the far post for Kim Won-sik to net from close range.
And just four minutes after the break FC Seoul were ahead following another set piece as Sin floated a free-kick into the area from a central position and Adriano turned 180 degrees on the penalty spot to volley past Takuto Hayashi.
Seven minutes later, the Brazilian added a second as a fluid Seoul move ended with Ko Kwang-min bursting into the left side of the area and the midfielder's low cross was stabbed home by the sliding Adriano.
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And Adriano completed his hat-trick in the 69th minute with a cool side-footed finish after Sin had flicked the ball over the defence from just outside the area following good work from Damjanovic and Barba.
“As this was an away game, we knew it was going to be tough. In terms of the result, it was a convincing defeat,” said Sanfrecce coach Hajime Moriyasu.
“In the first half, it was pretty even. In the second half, Seoul dominated but we were not at our best and we are capable of more than this.
“We can still have success in this competition. We were without the player who was responsible for a lot of our goals last season, but we are champions of Japan and will work hard to show what we are made of. There are still four games remaining and a lot to play for.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports