FC Seoul vs Western Sydney Wanderers (AFC Champions League 2017 : Group Stage – MD3)
Arquivo da tag: FC Seoul
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 1 – 1 FC Seoul
The holders led courtesy of Kerem Bulut’s opening goal early in the Group H clash at Pirtek Stadium but had to settle for a share of the spoils after conceding what was a deserved equaliser for the hosts, scored by Ko Yo-Han in the 72nd minute.
The result leaves the Wanderers and FC Seoul, the team they defeated in last season’s semi-finals, level on five points, second and third respectively behind leaders Guangzhou Evergrande.
The Wanderers opened the scoring with the first attack of note from either team in the 12th minute.
Iacopo La Rocca’s long forward pass was met by the head of left-back Kim Chi-Woo, who inadvertently nodded the ball directly into the path of Bulut.
On the day police charges against the striker – of intimidation at a fast food restaurant – were dropped, he celebrated by slotting a typically confident finish beyond the reach of goalkeeper Kim Yong-Dae.
After surviving an earlier injury scare, Labinot Haliti should have doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 37th minute. Beating the offside trap, the unmarked forward stooped to meet Anthony Golec’s cross from the left but could only send a tame header harmlessly wide.
The visitors began to threaten as the first half wore on, most notably in the 45th minute when Ante Covic was required to dash out of his goal and dispossess Yun Il-Lok with a sliding challenge almost 25 metres out of his area. The veteran keeper’s timing had to be perfect, with a certain red card the alternative.
Seoul coach Choi Yong-Soo made two substitutions at the break and was rewarded with a strong start to the second half from his players.
The away team came agonisingly close to equalising in the 53rd minute, Colombian Mauricio Molina – impressive throughout but particularly so in the second period – unleashing a fierce shot which crashed into the underside of the crossbar and only bounced clear of the goal-line by a matter of inches.
The pressure continued to build and with 18 minutes to go, a chance arrived that the 2013 finalists couldn’t miss.
Veteran right-back Cha Du-Ri played Everton Santos into space inside the area and the Brazilian’s ball across the face of goal was slammed home at close range by substitute Ko.
A frantic climax to the contest saw both teams have strong penalty appeals dismissed, Tomi Juric hauled down by Cha before substitute Jason Trifiro appeared to handle inside the area from a Seoul corner.
In time added on Romeo Castelen had a shot saved when played in one-on-one with Kim, who also parried clear Trifiro’s follow-up. At the other end Ante Covic then appeared to carry the ball across the line after making a save from looping volleyed effort.
As it was neither side could force the winner, leaving the two teams still scrapping to join likely group winners Guangzhou Evergrande in the knockout stages.
Next up in this competition for Tony Popovic’s men is a home match with the group’s bottom side Kashima Antlers on April 21, when Seoul play host to the leaders.
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Bulut 12’)
FC Seoul 1 (Go Yo Han 72’)
Football Federation Australia
Asian Champions League preview: Western Sydney Wanderers v FC Seoul
Wanderers could take a huge step towards progression to the AFC Champions League knockout stages with a win over FC Seoul in Parramatta.
Likewise for Seoul, who’ll have revenge on their minds after last season’s semi-final knockout at the hands of the red and black, three points would be worth their weight in ACL gold at this stage of the campaign.
Guangzhou Evergrande is all-but through, top of the group with three wins out of three, meaning the Wanderers and FC Seoul are elbowing each other for second spot.
It couldn’t be tighter. Both sides are currently level on four points although Tony Popovic’s side currently has their noses in front on goal difference, by the solitary goal.
It all points to another fascinating night of Continental football at the home of the reigning Asian champions.
With the head-to-head record between two sides the deciding factor – if teams are tied at the end of the group stage – this clash takes on even greater importance.
Despite just one win in their last five Hyundai A-League matches, the Wanderers have performed well lately, including a 1-1 draw with Melbourne City FC on Friday night.
While FC Seoul are just at the beginning of their domestic campaign, Choi Yong-soo’s men have struggled to find results, with just one win from their first four K-League matches.
That victory came on the weekend, though, a 1-0 win over Jeju United thanks to a last-minute goal from substitute Everton Santos.
But Wanderers boss Tony Popovic also feels his side is finding their groove in time for what is a vitally important clash for his weary troops.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position to go through in a very tough group and we have two home matches coming up,” Popovic said.
“This one is a crucial one for both teams and we’ll make sure the team we put out on Tuesday gives it their all. We want a positive result on Tuesday and if we can get that we know that we’ve put one foot into the next round.”
The Wanderers have a lengthy casualty ward with the likes of Matthew Spiranovic, Nikita Rukavytsya, Brendan Hamill and Brendon Santalab all unavailable.
It means Popovic is limited in what kind of side he can put out. If Antony Golec can shrug off injury he should come in at left-back in place of Sam Gallaway while Iacopo La Rocca will start at either centre-back or midfield.
The other debate is who to start with up front, with Kerem Bulut perhaps to get the nod ahead of Tomi Juric who played almost 80 minutes in tough conditions on Friday night.
Like in Seoul last month, Wanderers will need to get the better of FC Seoul’s impressive imports Mauricio Molina, Osmar Barba and Santos, who’ll be buoyed by that goal on the weekend.
Source :Football Federation Australia
Let´s see the highlights of FC Seoul 0 – 0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Western Sydney Wanderers hold FC Seoul to 0-0 draw to gain valuable Champions League point
March 19, 2015 – 12:06AM
Angela Habashy
FC Seoul 0 Western Sydney Wanderers 0
Last-minute change: Western Sydney’s Kerem Bulut (right) and Lee Woong-hee battle for possession. Photo: AP
Western Sydney have defied a horror recent schedule to keep their Asian Champions League defence on track, holding FC Seoul to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
The Wanderers had played seven matches in just 20 days prior to their trip to the Seoul World Cup Stadium to face the side they knocked out in the semi-finals last year.
The crucial point leaves the defending champions second in their group, behind Guangzhou Evergrande, halfway through the group stage and well placed with two of their three remaining group games at home.
But the heavy load continued to take its toll on Wednesday.
Coach Tony Popovic, back on the sideline after serving a two-match ban, was forced into a last-minute change, starting striker Kerem Bulut in place of Tomi Juric, who pulled up with hamstring tightness in the warm up.
Making matters worse, Wanderers also lost fellow Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic to the same complaint late in the first half.
Wanderers, who haven’t conceded a first-half goal in all 17 of their ACL games to date, were able to keep FC Seoul at bay in the opening stanza.
The five-time K-League champions put the Wanderers under pressure early, defender Anthony Golec forced into a crucial clearance in the 17th minute before the hosts’ Colombian import Mauricio Molina sent the rebound just over the crossbar.
Labinot Haliti found himself in space and took a chance from long range in the 32nd minute, but sent it too high.
Western Sydney began to look dangerous before the break with Bulut threatening, while Molina looked lively at the other end of the pitch, but neither side could break through.
With key centre-back Spiranovic taken off in the 39th minute, Iacopo La Rocca was moved into the the centre of defence, substitute Jason Trifiro taking the Italian’s spot in midfield.
Haliti was just centimetres away from breaking the deadlock in the 61st minute, rattling the crossbar with another long-range strike.
The visitors looked certain to score when a shot from Romeo Castalan rebounded and fell to Bulut in the 70th minute, but keeper Yoo Sang-Hoon blocked the point-blank shot.
Bulut had a golden chance to snatch a winner at the death, but was denied again from close range by Sang-Hoon.
Despite plenty of attacking intent neither side could find the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar’s next generation took centre stage as they fought out an enthralling 3-3 draw with South Korean side Suwon Bluewings.
Emerging midfielder Devante Clut scored twice in just his third appearance at senior level, while teenage forward Brandon Borrello’s rich vein of form continued with another goal at the Gold Coast’s cBus Super Stadium.
Clut’s second strike was a stunner from just outside the box with 10 minutes remaining, bringing the Roar back on equal terms just as they appeared destined for defeat.
Roar had surged to a 2-0 lead after 22 minutes but their grasp on the match slipped after the break, and Suwon took full advantage through a Seo Jung-jin brace and a header from North Korean international striker Jong Tae-se.
The importance of a win was underlined for both teams when Beijing Guoan defeated Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday to consolidate their Group G supremacy, setting up Brisbane and Suwon for a likely battle for the second qualifying berth.
AAP
Source : The Canberra Times
FC Seoul 0 – 0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Struggling in the Hyundai A-League but often saving their best for the ACL, the Wanderers defended stoutly for much of the match and could have snatched a win at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium in the second half.
Labinot Haliti was inches away from giving Tony Popovic’s troop victory mean his 20-yard strike smashed into the cross bar,while Kerem Bulut also went close on two occassions.
The result keeps the Wanderers in second spot in the group, equal on points with third-placed FC Seoul but with superior goal-difference.
It was a poor night for the Wanderers on the injury front, with Matthew Spiranovic limping off after just 39 minutes with a recurrence of his hamstring injury.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Spiranovic wasn’t their only casualty.
Just before kick-off with striker Tomi Juric forced to pull out of the starting side after suffering some hamstring tightness during the warm-up.
Kerem Bulut came into the line-up but the young striker rarely had a sight of goal in what was a cagey start by both sides in the first 15 minutes.
It was the home side that had the first real chance just before the midway point of the half after some poor defending by Antony Golec and Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
The duo combined to rebound a clearance right into the path of Mauricio Molina, but the playmaker could only curl his shot over the bar from just inside the box.
That was as close as either side would come in a largely disappointing first half with neither ‘keeper seriously tested.
FC Seoul lifted the tempo after the break and started pushing the Wanderers defence further back but the visitors also began to look dangerous on the counter attack.
It was only a timely defensive header by Cha Du-Ri which denied Nikita Rukavytsya a chance to volley in at the far post from Yusuke Tanaka’s cross.
The Wanderers went even closer just after the hour mark when Haliti was given time to turn just outside the box but his rasping drive cannoned back off the crossbar.
Bulut had the next chance for the Wanderers, capitalizing on a surging run by Romeo Castelen but ‘keeper Yu Sang-Hun was quickly out to smother his effort, while Castelen blasted the rebound into the side-netting.
Substitute Lee Seok-Hyun almost stole it for FC Seoul late on when his low drive went just wide of Ante Covic’s post before Bulut wasted a golden chance three minutes from time, hitting his one-on-one opportunity straight into the ‘keeper.
The two sides meet again on April 7 at Parramatta in what looms as a pivotal clash to see who will progress to the knockout phase behind group leaders Guangzhou Evergrande.
FC Seoul 0
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0
Football Federation Austrália Website
Asian Champions League dossier: FC Seoul
Guangzhou Evergrande had a bone to pick with Western Sydney Wanderers when the two teams met two weeks ago at Wanderland. The quarter-final elimination in 2014 was still painfully raw in the Chinese memory.
Revenge came hard fought and was all the sweeter for that. Now it is the turn of the team the Wanderers defeated in the semi-final – but for FC Seoul, revenge is not really an issue.
Marcello Lippi and his men felt they were hard done by, but in Korea, the disappointment was focused on the K-League team and coach Choi Yong-soo.
The feeling was that the finalist from the year before had tamely bowed out of the competition at the hands of the Australians and deserved no more than what it got.
Not revenge, then, but perhaps some redemption for Choi.
His relationship with the fans is up and down. They have at times been frustrated in the four years he has been in charge by what they see as over-cautious football, inflexible tactics and a reliance on a small number of players, usually foreigners.
Yet, when things start to look serious, he pulls something out of the hat: in 2013, it was almost the Asian Champions League, in 2014 it was qualifying for the 2015 edition in the very last minute of the season, the first time they moved into third place.
There is sense however that Seoul is drifting a little. In the close season, the team lost more of its stars. At the end of 2013, goal machine Dejan Damjanovic moved to China while captain Ha Dae-sung moved to Beijing Guoan.
In recent weeks, central defender Kim Ju-young left for Shanghai SIPG while Sergio Escudero headed to Jiangsu Sainty. And when Colombian star Mauricio Molina, still the highest paid player in the K-League, is a shadow of his former self, then it is not surprising that the team is not the force it once was.
Last season, it was clear that Seoul’s replacements for Damjanovic and Ha were not of the required standard. This season, it remains to be seen how the new additions fare.
The latest, too late in fact to register for the group stage of the Champions League, is Park Chu-young, returning to his former club after a successful three years in France and AS Monaco and a rather less happy four years mainly at Arsenal.
The former Korea international has much to do and prove after little to no football in recent times.
That leaves goal-scoring mainly on the familiar shoulders of Jung Jo-guk. ‘The Patriot’ (his given name means ‘motherland’) and a workhorse at the front.
Brazilian striker Everton Santos has not yet really impressed.
One figure that Australian fans will remember is Cha Du-ri. The bald-headed phenomenon of a right-back was the best in his position at the AFC Asian Cup and while the ‘Chaminator’ has played his last game for the Taeguk Warriors, he can still be seen charging up and down stadiums in the K-League.
Yun Il Lok buzzes around the frontlines but is frustrating more often that fantastic but Koh Myung-jin has grown into the main man in the middle, one of the best passers in the K-League.
Seoul wants the Asian Champions League, six K-League teams have been continental winners but the club from the capital has not as its fans are reminded on a regular basis.
Two defeats in the opening two games of the season, albeit against strong opposition, has supporters worried again. Seoul is a team that has a habit of starting seasons slowly.
A win at home to the Wanderers put the Koreans top of the group and give fans something to smile about. Defeat though would leave this powerhouse looking forward to 2015 with more than a little trepidation.
Source : Football Federation Australia Website
Asian Champions League preview: Western Sydney Wanderers FC v FC Seoul
Fixture details
Squads:
Wanderers: Ante Covic, Daniel Mullen, Daniel Alessi, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Antony Golec, Brendan Hamill, Shannon Cole, Alusine Fofanah, Mateo Poljak, Yianni Perkatis, Jason Trifiro, Iacopo La Rocca, Kwabena Appiah, Labinot Haliti, Vitor Saba, Mark Bridge, Tomi Juric, Brendon Santalab, Dean Bouzanis, Jaushua Sotirio
FC Seoul: Yong-Dae Kim, Sang-Hoon Yoo, Du-Ri Cha, Jin-Kyu Kim, Hyo-Jin Choi, Osmar Barba, Woong-Hee Lee, Seung-Jo Kang, Myong-Jin Ko, Yo-Han Ko, Sang Hyup Lee, Everton Santos, Hee-Seong Park, Kwang-Min Ko, Hyun-Tae Choi, Sergio Escudero, Mauricio Molina, Joo-Young Kim, Dong-Suk Kim, Jung-Han Choi, Je-Hyuk Sim, Nam-Choon Kim
Hashtag: #ACL2014 #WSWvSEO
Broadcast coverage: Fox Sports 3, Wednesday, October 1 at 7pm (kick off 7.30pm)
Bluffer’s guide
It promises to be another tense and tight evening as the Wanderers aim to become just the second Australian side – since Adelaide United in 2008 – to make the ACL final.
If the first leg is anything to go by, there is very little between the two sides and goal-scoring chances could again be limited.
It means the first goal on Wednesday night will be vital to deciding the winner of the tie. Seoul, one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the K-League, are aiming to make the final for the second straight year.
Route to goal
The Wanderers will be boosted by the return of attackers Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab, as well as the versatile Shannon Cole.
It will give Tony Popovic a few more options and a great deal more firepower in the front third.
Juric offers a different presence to Labinot Haliti – who started in the first leg – which will allow the home side to be much more direct and put greater pressure on Seoul’s back three.
The first leg was the only time in 11 ACL games the Wanderers have been kept scoreless but with Juric, Santalab and Cole back and a huge home crowd behind them it’s hard to see them not putting one past Seoul ‘keeper Yong-Dae Kim.
Seoul is without Yun Il-Rok who was injured on Asian Games duty, while Spanish defender/midfielder Osmar Barba is racing the clock to be fit. Sergio Escudero – who wasted a couple of great chances in the first leg – will again be the visitor’s best outlet for a goal while Colombian playmaker Mauricio Molina could be the x-factor.
Who’s been in the spotlight this week?
Wanderers skipper Nikolai Topor-Stanley has been rewarded for his consistent form over the last couple of years by earning a recall to the Socceroos squad for next month’s friendlies against UAE and Qatar.
But before he can focus on grabbing a green and gold jersey he will have his work cut out trying to keep the likes of Sergio Escudero, Everton Santos and Mauricio Molina quiet.
If the Wanderers are to continue their fairytale run to the final, Topor-Stanley and the rest of his defence will need to be at the top of their game.
Mistake and master-stroke?
It could be a master-stroke for Seoul coach Yong-Soo Choi to use Mauricio Molina from the start. The Colombian was only a second half substitute in the first leg but they immediately looked a better side when he was on the pitch.
It would be a mistake for the Wanderers to go all-out for the goal which would put them through to the final, with Seoul knowing an away goal would put them in the box seat to progress.
Form lines
The Wanderers haven’t played a competitive match since the first leg. With the Hyundai A-League season still over a week away from starting, Tony Popovic’s squad have been able to focus solely on the clash and they should be physically and mentally fresh enough to produce their best.
Seoul had the weekend off in the K-League, allowing them to arrive in Australia early to prepare for this game. The Koreans shouldn’t be short on confidence, currently on an unbeaten run of 13 games in all competitions. They are hitting their straps at just the right time of the season.
Prediction
Result: Wanderers 2-1 FC Seoul
Back in front of a raucous home crowd, the Wanderers will be confident of getting the victory to get them through to the final.
They have been sensational in the knockout stages at Parramatta and with Juric back in the side look a far more dangerous outfit.
It could very much come down to which side gets the first goal. If it’s the Wanderers you would back them do enough to get a victory but if Seoul strikes first the home side might find it hard to break down their defence at least twice.
It will be a cracking atmosphere at Wanderland and that could be what helps get the Wanderers over the line and keep the club’s fairytale run into an ACL final.
Source : Football Federation Australia
FC Seoul v Western Sydney Wanderers
September 30, 2014 – 4:15PM
Sebastian Hassett
Football reporter
FC Seoul v Wanderers.
AFC Champions League Semi-Final: Second Leg Western Sydney Wanderers v FC Seoul Wednesday, October 1, Pirtek Stadium.
Kick-off: 7:30pm (gates open at 6.00pm) Live from 7pm on Fox Sports 3 & Fox Sports 3 HD Twitter: #WSWvSEO Odds: Western Sydney Wanderers $2.50, Draw $3.25, FC Seoul $2.75 (Sportsbet.com.au)
LIKELY TEAMS
(L-to-R) Western Sydney (4-2-3-1): Covic; Golec, Topor-Stanley, Hamill, Mullen; La Rocca, Poljak; Bridge, Saba, Haliti; Juric. FC Seoul (4-1-4-1): Yoo Sang-Hoon; Lee Woong-Hee, Kim Joo-Young, Kim Jin-Kyu, Cha Du-Ri; Lee Sang-Hyup; Ko Kwang-Min, Ko Yo-Han, Ko Myong-Jin; Molina; Everton Santos. FIRST LEG: FC Seoul 0-0 Western Sydney Wanderers, September 17, Seoul World Cup Stadium
FIVE TO WATCH
1. Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Western Sydney Wanderers) Rewarded for his consistency in this competition by winning a surprise call-up the national team. Praised by Ange Postecoglou for his recent Asian performances, the club’s new captain must hold firm again if the Wanderers are to book a date in Riyadh.
2. Maurico Molina (FC Seoul) When Molina came on at half-time of the first-leg, the complexion of the match changed completely. His scything runs and flashing shots very nearly undid the Wanderers on multiple occasions. It didn’t happen, but he’s likely to get 90 minutes to use his talents this time.
3. Tomi Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers) Interest from Sanfrecce Hiroshima hasn’t bothered the Socceroo – or so he says. The striker’s knife-edge finishing will surely be called upon as the match wears on. There’s even a slim chance he’ll have to come off the bench.
4. Everton Santos (FC Seoul) Has to get the nod over lukewarm Japanese striker Sergio Escudero, who has found himself out of favour in recent league outings. The former Paris Saint-Germain and Corinthians forward has the talent to make a different on a night like this.
5. Vitor Saba (Western Sydney Wanderers) Flashes of brilliance from the Brazilian have demonstrated why he was playing with Italian side Brescia last year. However, he’s not quite ignited over 90 minutes just yet and, at this level, that’s where he needs to stand up and make an Ono-like difference.
KEY MATCH-UP
Antony Golec or Shannon Cole (Western Sydney Wanderers) v Cha Du-Ri (FC Seoul) He might be 34 but Cha Du-Ri still has the pace and tricks of a wing-back half his age. While Golec nabbed a pass mark in Seoul, Shannon Cole is a more athletic option – which may appeal given the nippy Molina could also start on the right.
IN THE DUGOUT
Tony Popovic (Western Sydney Wanderers) The milestones keep falling for Popovic and getting his side this far in the ACL is arguably his biggest achievement yet. Making the final certainly would be, meaning the weight of destiny is now upon his dugout. Choi Yong-Soo (FC Seoul) An FC Seoul club legend, nothing would give Choi Yong-Soo more satisfaction than taking his beloved club to the final, giving him a chance to appease last year’s final defeat to Guangzhou Evergrance.
Source : The Sydney Morning Herald
FC Seoul wants to overcome last year’s ‘mistakes’
September 30, 2014 – 6:41PM
Sebastian Hassett
Football reporter
On the eve of their must-win Asian Champions League clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers, FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-Soo admits it was his mistake that cost the team last season’s title – and he desperately wants to atone.
Seoul led 1-0 early on in the first leg of last season’s final but ended up drawing the match 2-2 and could only manage a 1-1 result for the return leg, ensuring the Chinese side emerged victorious on away goals.
“Last year we were against a very good team and we were lucky, to be honest, [to make the final],” Choi said at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “But I made a small mistake during the game.
“Of course, last year, missing out on that final step to the Cup motivates the whole team.
“We understand that Western Sydney, at home, want to show their fans how strong they are. But whether they are offensive or defensive isn’t really important for us. We have a lot of strategies all the time, and how our players react is more important.”
The Koreans haven’t won a game in normal time in the ACL since early May, when they overcame Kawasaki Frontale 3-2 away in the first leg of their round of 16 match. Since then, they’ve lost 2-1 at home to Kawasaki, advancing on away goals, and then played out back-to-back 0-0 draws with fellow K-League side Pohang Steelers, before needing a penalty shoot-out to go through.
Given they drew 0-0 at home with the Wanderers in the semi-final first leg, the coach admits they’ve cut it fine to get this far.
“We expected lots of goals but it didn’t happen,” he said.
“We don’t expect Western Sydney to be too defensive, especially at home, but we are prepared and we have lots of different strategies to set our side. We believe in our side.”
Colombian forward Mauricio Molina and Brazilian striker Everton Santos started on the bench in the first leg in Seoul but then came on and nearly swung the match in the host’s favour, giving Choi plenty to think about if he wants to grab an early goal on Wednesday night. He even hinted the prospect of extra time could affect his final selection.
“It’s important that we look at whether the game will last for 90 minutes or 120 minutes, so we have a lot of strategies every single time,” he said. “During the game, players responding to the right [direction] is very important.”
Choi was more optimistic about the prospect of Spanish defender Osmar Barba starting the match after missing the first leg.
“He couldn’t play the last match because he was injured but also because of a yellow card,” he said. “Now he just got back from the injury and he has a very good condition and is a very important player for FC Seoul. He’ll be showing really good form for tomorrow’s game.”
Source : The Sydney Morning Herald
TV TOTAL 