Guangzhou,Seoul set up ACL final showdown
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 8, 2013
Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande will face Korean counterparts FC Seoul for the AFC Champions League title after becoming the first Chinese side in 15 years to reach the final of the continental club championship following a comprehensive win over Japan's Kashiwa Reysol on Wednesday evening.
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AFC Champions League top scorer Muriqui scored twice as Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande beat Japan's Kashiwa Reysol 4-0 in Wednesday's semi-final second leg. |
AFC Champions League top scorer Muriqui scored twice while fellow South Americans Elkeson and Dario Conca were also on target at a raucous Tianhe Sport Center as Guangzhou eased to a 4-0 win which sealed an eye-catching 8-1 aggregate victory.
And with Marcello Lippi's side following in the footsteps of 1998 Asian Club Championship finalists Dalian Wanda, Guangzhou will travel to Seoul World Cup Stadium for the first leg of the final later this month after FC Seoul shared a 2-2 draw with Iran champions Esteghlal in Tehran to become the fifth consecutive Korean club to reach the AFC Champions League final.
"It's very positive having the team in the final because it adds to the growth that I've seen in the team that won the championship last year, and now we want to go on and win the title," said Italian World Cup winner Lippi, who also won the UEFA Champions League with Juventus in 1996.
"Reaching the final is something that's extremely positive and we will put all our efforts into winning the title for the club and the fans and everyone else here.
"We have tonight put in a very compact performance and that's what you need to get through these matches and this is what helped us tonight. I think a team playing this way completely deserves to reach the final."
But before turning their attentions to emulating 1989 Asian Club Championship winners Liaoning, Guangzhou face second-placed Shandong Luneng in the Chinese Super League on Sunday knowing victory will seal a third consecutive domestic title.
"We are now going to think about Sunday's game and try to win the championship and then we will focus on the final," added Lippi.
In Tehran, FC Seoul remained on course to become the fourth Korean AFC Champions League winner in five years after completing a 4-2 aggregate victory over two-time Asian Club Championship winners Esteghlal.
A delightful chip by captain Ha Dae-sung extended FC Seoul's advantage after winning last week's first leg 2-0 at home.
And despite Jlloyd Samuel and Mohammad Ghazi reducing the deficit for Esteghlal in the second half in front of 88,000 crowd at Azadi Stadium, an 80th minute penalty from Kim Jin-kyu sealed FC Seoul's place in the final.
"We have got to lock horns with the Chinese side in the final and this is where we can prove to Asia that we are also a good team," said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.
"Guangzhou Evergrande have quality players, many of whom play for the China national team.
"We can use the long gap between now and our next game to gear up for the clash. Champions and runners-up in this tournament will be very differently looked upon, so we will try our best to come out winners."
Like Guangzhou, FC Seoul are also in contention to reclaim their domestic title and are currently just four points off the pace with two games in hand on current leaders and former AFC Champions League winners Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with 2012 winners Ulsan Hyundai also in the picture at the top of the table.
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