Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic’s FC Seoul sealed top spot in Group F and a place in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 with a game to spare after Wednesday’s 2-1 win over already eliminated Buriram United of Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
First half headers from Dejan Damjanovic and Park Yong-woo set the 2013 runners-up on their way to a fourth win in five games while the Thai champions are still searching for their first points of the campaign.
The visitors did get a first goal of the campaign, however, thanks to a second half penalty from defender Andres Tunez.
“We have had many tough games in a tough schedule and we did not play as well as we can but you can't play well in every game. We should have been a little more clinical but I am satisfied with the result,” said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.
“We have finished first in a very difficult group and I want to give credit to the players for that. Through their determination and hard work we got good results.
“For us, the next step is to move on as if it is the start and not the end.”
Seoul took control of the game from the start and almost went ahead in spectacular fashion in the third minute.
Damjanovic headed a Go Yo-han cross back across the six yard box for Adriano to send a perfect overhead kick that Siwarak Tedsungnoen did well to push behind for a corner.
Soon after Buriram's Korea Republic star Ko Seul-gi fired a warning shot to Seoul as he fired over the bar from outside the area.
It was still mostly Seoul though. Damjanovic had a shot well-saved and from the corner, Lee Seok-hyun's shot was deflected just inches wide.
And it was Damjanovic who broke the deadlock after 25 minutes as a perfect cross from Yojiro Takahagi found the Montenegrin marksman who headed home into the bottom corner for his third of the tournament so far.
Just before the break, Park Yong-woo doubled the hosts lead and, once again, it was thanks to a floated cross from Takahagi, this time on the right edge of the area, and Park headed the ball into the roof of the net in emphatic fashion.
Seoul carried on at the start of the second half as they ended the first with Damjanovic shooting almost straight at the goalkeeper from inside the box and then setting up tournament top scorer Adriano. The Brazilian blasted what would have been goal number ten over the bar from inside the area.
Out of nowhere Buriram got back in the game with their first goal of the tournament midway through the second half. Takahagi brought down Sittichok Kannoo just inside the area and Venezuelan international Tunez stroked the ball coolly into the corner.
The goal stung Seoul but the K-League Classic team could not restore their two-goal advantage with Park Chu-young and Park Yong-woo coming close.
Buriram rarely threatened to get the equaliser and Seoul took the points that sees them confirmed as group winners and with it their place in the last 16.
“It is not a good feeling to be eliminated from the tournament at the group stage but we rotated the team today and the young players came in and did a good job,” said Buriram coach Alexandre Gama.
“Conceding the second goal just before half-time was a blow and it took the players a while to recover their confidence, but I think we played well today.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports