Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Seoul: FC Seoul put their domestic troubles behind them to secure a 2-1 win over Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan on Wednesday evening that sees Choi Yong-soo’s team progress to the Round of 16 in the 2014 AFC Champions League.
Kang Seung-jo and Yun Ju-tae scored the goals for the Koreans, who lost in the final of the 2013 AFC Champions League and are currently languishing in the lower reaches of the K-League Classic standings.
Yu Yang headed home for Beijing two minutes from time, but it was not enough to spark a fight back for the Chinese club.
Victory means FC Seoul finish on top of Group F and the Korean side will now face J.League side Kawasaki Frontale in the next round and are one of three K-League sides to advance to the last 16, alongside Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Pohang Steelers.
There was no place in Beijing’s starting line-up for former FC Seoul captain Ha Dae-sung and the Chinese side looked tentative in a game Gregorio Manzano’s team needed to win to advance beyond the group stage for the second season in a row.
Neither goalkeeper was called into serious action until after the half hour mark, when Beijing’s Yang Zhi pushed Koh Myong-jin’s long range effort away for a corner as he dived to his left.
With barely a minute remaining in the half, Seoul took the lead via Kang, whose freekick from the left curled towards goal and, despite no one making contact as the cross flew towards goal, the ball bounced over Yang to put the home side in front.
FC Seoul added to their advantage 13 minutes after therestart when they caught Beijing on the break, with Kim Chi-woo’s perfectly weighed pass releasing Yun Il-lok who, after racing towards goal, slipped the ball into the path of the unmarked Yun Ju-tae and he rolled his effort home.
Beijing went close to reducing the deficit three minutes after the hour mark when Shao Jiaye’s free kick left Kim Yong-dae rooted to the spot, only to canon back off the right post.
Two minutes from time Beijing did find the back of the net when Yu Yang scored at the second attempt, heading home after seeing his initial effort cleared off the line by Sim Sang-min, but it was not enough to kick start a late fight back as Beijing bowed out.