SEOUL: FC Seoul failed to convert their dominance into goals as the South Korean club were held to a 0-0 draw by Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers in the first leg of their AFC Champions League semi-final yesterday.
The home side enjoyed most of the possession and chances at Seoul World Cup Stadium but lacked a real cutting edge against their Australian opponents, who were missing three key players through suspensions.
It was the third consecutive stalemate in the competition for Seoul, the 2013 runners-up, after goalless draws in both legs of their quarter-final against Korean rivals Pohang Steelers.
After a dour opening half, Seoul coach Choi Yong-Soo brought on Colombian playmaker Mauricio Molina and Brazilian forward Everton Santos at the interval.
But while the Korean side did create more second-half opportunities, they continued to fire blanks in front of goal.
Everton offered an attacking threat for the Korean club but the Brazilian failed really to trouble goalkeeper Ante Covic with a weak effort from just outside the box in the 54th minute.
He then turned Cha Du-Ri’s dangerous low cross from the right narrowly wide midway through the second half.
Tournament debutants Western Sydney defended in depth but were nearly caught out in stoppage time when Everton’s shot on the turn from the left edge of the box was tipped over the crossbar by Covic.
The stalemate leaves both teams with plenty to play for in the return match at Parramatta Stadium on October 1, when the Wanderers will have defender Shannon Cole and forwards Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab back from suspension.
Spanish defender Osmar Barba will once again be available for Seoul.
The winners will meet either Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia or Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the final next month.
Al Hilal hold the upper hand in that tie after they romped to a 3-0 win in the first leg in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Three goals in a nine-minute second half spell gave the Saudis a comfortable buffer for the second leg of the semi-final at the home of the 11-times United Arab Emirates champions on September 30. Nassir Al Shamrani opened the scoring in front of 57,170 fans at King Fahd Stadium with a thunderbolt of a shot from a narrow angle in the 61st minute, adding his second three minutes later from close range. AGENCIES
