Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Coach Choi Yong-soo insists that his FC Seoul side can overturn their 1-0 deficit against Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and progress to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals when the two team clash in Wednesday’s Round of 16 second leg at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
FC Seoul were the top-scoring team in the group stage, netting 17 times to top Group F, but the 2013 runners-up failed to score in Saitama last week with Urawa’s Tomoya Ugajin netting the first leg’s only goal on the 14th minute.
The K League side do boast the tournament’s leading scorer though, with Brazilian striker Adriano having scored 10 times in just six games, and they will want to avoid a second consecutive elimination at the last 16 stage by Japanese opponents after their exit in last year’s competition at the hands of 2008 winners Gamba Osaka.
“We were not in good condition in the first leg and the result was also not good,” said Choi. “We had many games and our pressing, speed and concentration all suffered.
“This time, though, we have been preparing well for the second leg and we will keep going right until the end.
“The first goal will be very important and we will try our best to be the ones to get it while working had to keep a clean sheet.
“It will require a team effort. We are confident that we can win. Urawa are a good team but we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Visiting side Urawa are currently enjoying a spell of good form having gone unbeaten in the last 14 games in all competitions and are just two points behind early front-runners Kawasaki Frontale in their domestic championship with two games in hand.
And the 2007 AFC Champions League winners will be looking to extend that run of form on the continent by securing a return to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.
“We are in good form and have prepared well for this game,” said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic, whose side secured their place in the Round of 16 via a runners-up place in Group
“Both teams are strong and while we won 1-0 in the first leg, it was far from easy. If we play to our capability then we can get the result we need.”
“This is just half-time and there are still 90 minutes to play. The best way for us to progress is to aim to win the game. We have confidence that we can do just that.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports