Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pohang: Chris Naumoff scored the only goal just before half-time as Australia’s Sydney FC recorded back-to-back wins in Group H of the AFC Champions League after edging out Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers 1-0 at The Steelyard on Wednesday.
Naumoff fired home from inside the penalty area to seal all three points in a closely fought contest despite late pressure from the home side.
And after beating defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande from China at home earlier this month, Sydney moved above Pohang after the K League Classic side suffered a first defeat of the campaign.
“I think this was a very good game and a good result for us. We took 36 hours to get here and this result is better than I expected. We scored a good goal and defended well and there are lots of positives to take from the win,” said Sydney coach Graham Arnold.
“It is positive that we now have two games at home and our last game is away at Guangzhou Evergrande. Of course, we want to get the results at home so we can progress. We will work as hard as we can to be at our best starting with the fourth game of the group against Pohang.”
Most of the chances that came in the opening period were courtesy of set pieces as Sydney’s George Blackwood headed a corner on to the top of the Pohang net after 15 minutes
Moon Chang-jin's free-kick from the edge of the penalty area then hit the Sydney wall before visiting goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic comfortably caught a Shim Dong-woon header.
Pohang again went close just before the half hour mark as Kim Dae-ho broke free down the left and his cross cleared goalkeeper Janjetovic only for Ali Abbas to clear the ball to safety from underneath the crossbar.
But Sydney took the lead three minutes before the break as Blackwood advanced from deep and while his pass looked to be intended for Matt Simon, the ball missed the striker and the Pohang defence to fall at the feet of Naumoff at the far post and the 20 year-old slid the ball past goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong.
Pohang pushed forward in search of an equaliser leaving space at the back and Sydney should have extended their lead at the start of the second half as Simon slipped the ball through to Naumoff and the goalscorer pulled the ball across the area where it made its way to Andrew Hoole on the right corner of the six yard area, but the winger blasted his shot over the crossbar.
The K League Classic team were struggling to create any kind of chance against the well-organised Sydney and the home side were reduced to speculative efforts from distance.
Substitute Yang Dong-hyun came the closest with six minutes remaining, but the striker's low shot from outside the area flew well wide of Sydney's right-hand post.
And just before the end, Pohang captain Hwang Ji-soo blasted over from the edge of the area before Shim followed suit in stoppage time.
“There were many disappointing aspects of today's game. If we had won, we could have gone forward with something of a cushion, but now we have some difficult games coming thick and fast,” said Pohang coach Choi Jin-cheul.
“Before we conceded the goal, we were looking quite comfortable at the back We were lacking going forward and our movement in the final third was not what is should have been and the passing could have better too, especially the forward pass. Without Son Jun-ho, we had less possession in midfield and we didn't move the ball around as we should have.
“There are still three games left, but we have a lot of work to do.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports