Confident FC Seoul eye ACL crown
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 8, 2013
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FC Seoul defender Cha Du-ri missed the first leg of the AFC Champions League final against China's Guangzhou Evergrande due to suspension, but is pushing for a recall to the side ahead of Saturday's decisive return fixture at Tianhe Stadium. |
Defender Cha Du-ri has backed confident domestic champions FC Seoul to keep the AFC Champions League title in Korean hands for a fourth time in five years at the weekend by beating Chinese counterparts Guangzhou Evergrande in the second leg of this year's final.
FC Seoul needed a late strike from Dejan Damjanovic to rescue a 2-2 draw in last month's first leg in the Korean capital leaving Guangzhou within touching distance of ending China's wait for just a second continental club title in 23 years.
But after FC Seoul beat cross-town rivals Suwon Bluewings 2-1 in the K-League last weekend thanks to two goals from Montenegrin striker Damjanovic, Cha is confident Choi Yong-soo's side can continue Korea's recent AFC Champions League legacy by claiming victory on Saturday at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium.
"We played Suwon in one of the biggest matches in K-League and we won and we have a lot of good energy before the second leg," said 33-year-old Cha, who joined his first Korean club at the start of the year but was only added to the FC Seoul squad prior to the quarter-finals.
"I believe we can win the second leg and become champions of Asia."
Former Germany-based defender Cha missed the first leg at Seoul World Cup Stadium due to suspension, but is pushing for a recall at right-back for the return fixture.
The defender, who represented Korea Republic at the 2002 and 2010 FIFA World Cup, played against Suwon last weekend at the expense of Choi Hyo-jin with veteran Brazilian Adilson deployed at left-back as he was against Guangzhou with Kim Chi-woo still a doubt having also missed the first leg due to injury.
Midfielder Yun Il-lok also came into the side against Suwon in place of Go Yo-han in the only other change to the side from the first leg against Guangzhou.
"We did our best in the first leg and it wasn't a bad result as Guangzhou are a good team," added Cha, who had featured in FC Seoul's four previous games in the AFC Champions League before picking up yellow cards in both legs of the semi-final win over Iran's Esteghlal.
"Every away match is not easy to win, but we are confident and we have good energy."
Three-time Chinese champions Guangzhou are unbeaten at home in the AFC Champions League this season, while FC Seoul suffered their only defeat in the competition on their travels although Choi's side did draw in Saudi Arabia and Iran during the knockout stage.
Guangzhou rounded off another successful defence of their domestic title with a 5-0 win over relegated Wuhan last weekend with Elkeson, Dario Conca and Gao Lin all on target as coach Marcello Lippi opted to only leave out AFC Champions League leading scorer Muriqui and right-back Zhang Linpeng.
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