Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Both of Korea Republic’s AFC Champions League quarter-finalists booked their place in the last eight of the 2016 Korean FA Cup on Wednesday, with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coming from a goal down to defeat Dankook University 3-1 after extra time and FC Seoul edging Ansan Mugunghwa FC 2-1 in what was the last match under the helm of Choi Yong-soo, who leaves the club to join Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning.
FC Seoul, who Choi led to the 2015 Korean FA Cup, took the lead on the half-hour mark through Yun Ju-tae before the 26-year-old striker, who made his FC Seoul debut against Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the 2014 ACL having joined the club from FSV Frankfurt, doubled the home side’s advantage 15 minutes into the second half.
Hwang Ji-woong reduced the deficit with 14 minutes left to play but the cup holders held on to book their place in the last eight and send former AFC Coach of the Year Choi off to China with a final win for the the side he lead to the 2012 K-League title and a runners-up finish at the 2013 AFC Champions League.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, meanwhile, had to come from a goal down against Dankook University to join FC Seoul in the last eight after Lee Ki-woon had put the visitors one up ten minutes in the second half at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Lee Jong-ho, MVP as Korea Republic finished runners-up to Iran at the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship, levelled the tie just after the hour-mark before putting the Motors in the driving seat with his second in the 111th minute.
Kim Shin-wook, a 2012 ACL winner with Ulsan Hyundai, added a third for Jeonbuk before Dankook University were reduced to ten men with the sending off of Moon Ji-hwan with two minutes left to play.
Jeonbuk and FC Seoul, who are first and second respectively in the current K League Classic standings, both face Chinese opposition in the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC Champions League, with 2006 winners Jeonbuk facing Shanghai SIPG and FC Seoul, who have replaced the out-going Choi with former Pohang Steelers coach Hwang Sun-hong, taking on Shandong Luneng, who they defeated 4-1 in Jinan in the Group Stage.
Photo: AFP