Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Seoul: Domestic champions FC Seoul took a huge step towards becoming the fifth consecutive Korean side to reach the AFC Champions League final after recording a 2-0 win over Iranian counterparts Esteghlal in Wednesday’s semi-final first leg.
FC Seoul had made a slow start to their second continental semi-final until Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic (pictured) netted for a third consecutive game in the competition six minutes before half-time having scored both goals in the quarter-final win over 2012 finalists Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia.
And with Go Yo-han adding a second less than two minutes into the second half as Seoul World Cup Stadium and with neither side able to convert a host of chances inside an entertaining final 20 minutes, the 2002 Asian Club Championship runners-up will take a two-goal advantage to Tehran for next week’s second leg with FC Seoul looking to become the fourth Korean team in five years to win the AFC Champions League title.
Neither side were able to establish themselves on the contest in the first half, although Esteghlal at least threatened the FC Seoul goal as Javad Nekounam shot straight at goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae after 15 minutes before flashing wide from the edge of the penalty area seven minutes later.
And fresh from his spectacular stoppage time winner last week against Buriram United in Thailand, Anderanik Teymourian also went close 14 minutes before half-time as the midfielder showed excellent technique to guide a cultured half-volley just the wrong side of the upright after FC Seoul had unconvincingly cleared an Esteghlal corner.
But six minutes before the break it was FC Seoul who opened the scoring as Damjanovic was on hand to follow up with a simple header after Esteghlal goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati could only push Mauricio Molina’s header from Go’s cross into the path of the Montenegrin striker who netted his fifth goal of the campaign.
And FC Seoul should have added a second a minute later as Colombian midfielder Molina blazed over the crossbar from inside the area with the goal at his mercy after Rahmati had bravely saved at the feet of Koh Myong-jin.
But the second arrived less than two minutes into the second half as Go coolly skipped past the sliding challenge of Jlloyd Samuel after collecting Yun Il-lok’s cross before empathically beating Rahmati from the edge of the six yard area.
Esteghlal slowly regrouped as the half progressed knowing an away goal would put a completely different spin on the contest, but despite dominating possession in the final 20 minutes, the visitors struggled inside the final third.
FC Seoul, though, who went close to a third trough second half substitute Sergio Escudero with 12 minutes remaining before Esteghlal striker Mohammad Ghazi flashed an effort wide shortly after.
And with the game opening up inside the final quarter of an hour, FC Seoul should have added a third with 10 minutes remaining as an unmarked Molina failed to find the target with a free header from Go’s cross following good work from Damjanovic.
Ghazi did manage to direct a header on target with six minutes remaining, but the towering downward header from just outside the six yard area was straight at relieved FC Seoul goalkeeper Kim.
And Esteghlal were given a let of themselves with two minutes remaining as Damjanovic directed a header from Molina’s cross narrowly wide of the post before the Colombian midfielder was denied by a spectacular save from Rahmati in stoppage time.
Photo: WSG