FC Seoul eye quarter-final return
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 20, 2013
FC Seoul's bid to maintain their perfect record of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League in each of their three previous appearances continues on Tuesday as the K-League champions seek to build on last week's first leg goalless draw with Beijing Guoan.
Last week at Workers' Stadium, Group E winners FC Seoul held on despite playing the final 30 minutes with 10 men following the dismissal of Choi Hyo-jin.
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FC Seoul shared a goalless draw with Beijing Guoan in the first leg of their AFC Champions League last 16 tie and the K-League champions will look to secure a third appearance in the quarter-finals with victory in Tuesday's return fixture. |
And after Choi Yong-soo's side survived late pressure from the home side, 2002 Asian Club Championship runners-up FC Seoul know victory at Seoul World Cup Stadium will ensure a third AFC Champions League quarter-final appearance in five years.
"It was a tough game as we expected," said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo following the first leg.
"Beijing were very aggressive in the first half, but fortunately, we were not bad in the first 45 minutes either.
"Luckily we didn't concede any goals. It was a shame that it was only a draw, but in the next round we hope to have a better result with better preparation."
FC Seoul, who reached the last eight in both 2009 and 2011, had the luxury of a break from domestic action at the weekend, while Beijing drew 2-2 with Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League on Saturday.
Also on Tuesday, Thailand's Buriram United will look to hold onto a 2-1 first leg advantage in Tashkent to deny two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor a place in the last eight for a fourth time in six years.
Buriram, who are the first Thai team in a decade to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, were the only home side to claim an advantage after the first leg as a glancing header from substitute Ekkachai Samre with 14 minutes remaining was enough to edge out Bunyodkor.
Anawin Jujeen had opened the scoring after 17 minutes only for an eye-catching volley from Bunyodkor substitute Igor Taran to pull the visitors level in first-half stoppage time.
But despite 2012 semi-finalists Bunyodkor continuing to improve in the second half, Ekkachai headed home to hand Buriram – with new head coach Scott Cooper in the dugout following the departure of Atthaphol Puspakom – a slender advantage ahead of the return fixture.
"We have done a terrific job and won the game, but we will not be too overwhelmed by this victory," said Buriram coach Cooper, who had been working under Atthaphol since the start of the season, after the first leg.
"We have another 90 minutes in Uzbekistan to prove ourselves since Bunyodkor is a strong team and have had good performance in the AFC Champions League for many years."
Cooper will also be boosted by the return of captain Suchao Nutnum and Spanish midfielder Carmelo Gonzalez after the pair missed the first leg due to suspension as Buriram look to follow in the footsteps of inaugural finalists, and fellow Thais, BEC Tero Sasana.
Elsewhere, Saudi champions Al Shabab are in pole position to secure a return to the last eight for the first time since reaching the 2010 semi-finals after Nasser Al Shamrani's late strike secured a 2-1 first leg advantage against Al Gharafa from the first leg in Doha.
Finally, fellow Saudi side and 2012 finalists Al Ahli entertain AFC Champions League debutants El Jaish and are also favourites to return to the quarter-finals despite seeing Motaz Al Mosa's header in first-half stoppage time of the first leg cancelled out by a late strike from Anderson Martins.
The four remaining place in the quarter-finals will be decided on Wednesday as Japan's Kashiwa Reysol look to defend a healthy two-goal advantage at home to former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, while Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande entertain Australia's Central Coast Mariners with a 2-1 lead from the first leg.
Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal travel to Doha to face Qatar champions Lekhwiya looking to bounce back their 1-0 defeat at home, with recently-crowned Iran champions Esteghlal favourites to advance against Al Shabab Al Arabi after posting a 4-2 win in the first leg.
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