Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Seoul: Rafael Costa netted a penalty with the last kick of the game in the sixth minute of stoppage time as FC Seoul claimed a dramatic 2-2 draw with J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
After Yun Il-lok had cancelled out Gakuto Notsuda’s 20th minute opener just before the hour mark, Korean substitute Hwang Seok-ho appeared to have secured Hiroshima a second consecutive win in Group F after netting with 19 minutes remaining at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
But after Hiroshima goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi had saved a 89th minute penalty from FC Seoul’s Osmar Barba after visiting defender Hiroki Mizumoto had been sent-off, Rafael Costa (Rafael Costa dos Santos) held his nerve to leave Group F finely balanced with all four teams separated by just two points with two games remaining after Central Coast Mariners earlier recorded a 1-0 win over Beijing Guoan.
Sanfrecce were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead after 20 minutes as Naoki Ishihara, with his back to goal, deflected Notsuda’s downward header back into the path of the midfielder and he gave FC Seoul goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae no chance from inside the penalty area.
FC Seoul had struggled to find a foothold in the contest in the opening exchanges, but improved as the half progressed and only a smart one-handed save from Hiroshima goalkeeper Hayashi denied Spanish defender Barba a minute before half-time.
And FC Seoul continued their improvements in the second half and equalised nine minutes after the restart as Go Yo-han played a superb slide-rule pass in behind the Hiroshima defence and Yun raced in before expertly lifting the ball past advancing goalkeeper Hayashi.
Hiroshima nearly found an instant response just two minutes later, but FC Seoul goalkeeper Kim did just enough to spread himself and deflect Notsuda’s effort from inside the area past the post.
But with 19 minutes remaining Kim was unable to stop Hiroshima regaining the lead as Hwang was picked out unmarked just inside the edge of the penalty area and the Korean defender swept home his right-footed shot into the far corner.
FC Seoul, though, were handed a lifeline with a minute remaining as Mizumoto was sent-off following an off the ball incident inside the penalty area as Hiroshima were in the process of defending an FC Seoul corner only for Hayashi to brilliantly save Barba’s penalty.
But the drama did not end there as some seven minutes later, Hiroshima substitute Kazuhiko Chiba this time was adjudged to have committed an off the ball foul inside the area as FC Seoul delivered another cross into the penalty area allowing Rafae Costal made no mistake despite Hayashi guessing the right way.
Photo: WSG