Korea agian dominates last 8 line-up as Cerezo keep Japanese hopes alive
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K-League champions FC Seoul and domestic rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ensured another strong Korean presence in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after recording wins in the round of 16 this week.
With a Korean club winning the last two editions of the continental tournament after 2010 champions Seongham Ilhwa Chunma were one of four K-League sides who made it through to the quarter-finals last year, FC Seoul dispatched Kashima Antlers 3-0, Suwon downed J.League champions Nagoya Grampus 2-0 and 2006 champions Jeonbuk eased past China's Tianjin Teda 3-0.
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Uzbekistan's 2008 Asian Player of the Year Server Djeparov (left) provided the cross for Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic to score as K-League champions FC Seoul reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 3-0 win over Japan’s Kashima Antlers on Wednesday. |
Tournament debutants Cerezo Osaka are Japan's sole representative in the quarter-finals after producing the only away win in the last 16 as Daisuke Takahashi's late strike secured a 1-0 win over cross-city rivals Gamba Osaka.
Iran dominates the Western side of the draw with 2007 runners-up Sepahan and last year's finalists Zobahan advancing along with Qatari qualifiers Al Sadd and two-time winners Al Ittihad.
After Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad beat domestic rivals Al Hilal 3-1 and Sepahan saw off Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor by the same scoreline, Zobahan eased past Al Nassr 4-1 and Al Sadd edged out Al Shabab 1-0 to earn a place in September's quarter-finals.
Domestic champions FC Seoul enjoyed relatively untroubled passage into the next round as goals from Bang Seung-whan, Dejan Damjanovic and Koh Myung-jin saw off Kashima at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday.
A crisps strike from Bang opened the scoring after 28 minutes following good work from Damjanovic before former AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov provided the cross for the Montenegrin striker the double the lead 10 minutes into the second half following a swift counterattack.
And with Kashima pressing for a way back into the game in stoppage time, Koh capitalised on a defensive mistake on the halfway line before rounding stranded Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata inside the visitors' half and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.
"We played as a team, we played with one mind," said FC Soul caretaker coach Choi Yong-soo.
"There is no special team that we want to meet in the next round and if we show the same spirit that we showed tonight it won't be easy for any team to beat us."
Brazilian midfielder Eninho scored twice and set-up another as Jeonbuk breezed past Tianjin at Jeonju World Cup Stadium as a sixth win of the campaign secured a place in the last eight of the continental tournament for a second consecutive season and ended China's involvement for another year.
And a first-half header from Yeom Ki-hun and an opportunist second half strike from Lee Sang-ho put Korean clubs in a strong position to claim a third consecutive continental title as unbeaten Suwon downed Nagoya at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
With extra-time looming at Expo '70 Stadium in Osaka on Tuesday, Cerezo's Takahashi received a pass from Kim Bo-kyung wide on the right and his low angled first time strike wrong-footed Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya.
The home side rallied in a desperate bid to find an equaliser and were unlucky not to force extra-time as Takashi Usami hit the post in the closing stages as the 2008 champions' campaign came to an end in the last 16 for a third consecutive season.
"I was so delighted and deeply moved when I heard the final whistle because our supporters had been waiting for this derby victory for so long," said Cerezo manager Levir Culpi.
Asked about the quarter-finals, Culpi said: "If our players can approach it with the same attitude, I am convinced that we can move on further in the tournament."
