Seoul in control after victory over Shandong
Wydad hit back to hold ZESCO and win group
SEOUL, Aug 24, (AFP): FC Seoul took a grip of their AFC Champions League quarterfinal after overcoming Shandong Luneng 3-1 in the first leg in the Korean capital on Wednesday.
Goals from Park Chu-Young, Dejan Damjanovic and Brazilian top scorer Adriano gave them a deserved twogoal cushion to take to China for the second leg on September 14.
Adriano was dropped to the bench after a recent form slump despite 11 Champions League goals this campaign. Instead it was former Arsenal attacker Park who was preferred to partner Damjanovic up front.
It didn’t take long for coach Hwang Sun-Hong’s decision to be vindicated as Park, who in the 16th minute had blasted wastefully wide when it seemed easier to score, turned provider three minutes later.
The Seoul number 10’s cross found Damjanovic with the freedom of the penalty area as he nodded home unmarked his eighth goal in his last eight games from the edge of the six-yard box to open the scoring.
It was man-of-the-match Park’s turn on 31 minutes to take advantage of shoddy Shandong defending.
Park was found lurking in acres of space on the edge of the box by Cho Chan-Ho’s pass before having time to turn and shoot past Wang Dalei to make it 2-0.
With big-money signing from Southampton Graziano Pelle making little impact up front for the visitors, there seemed no way back.
But a foul just outside the penalty area after a rare Shandong forward foray gave Walter Montillo a sniff of goal and the Argentine expertly curled home the 35th-minute free-kick to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The home fans erupted in delight when their hero Adriano finally made his entrance in the 60th minute in place of Cho.
Just nine minutes later he took his AFC Champions League tally for the season to 12 when he was sent clear in the box by Damjanovic’s delightful back heel to make it 3-1.
There was time for Shandong midfielder Jin Jingdao to earn himself an early shower in the 81st minute after being needlessly booked twice in the space of four minutes for petulant fouls.
Jin will be suspended for the second leg.
Wydad Casablanca of Morocco fought back to draw 1-1 at ZESCO United of Zambia on Wednesday and finish first in Group A of the CAF Champions League.
Kenyan David Odhiambo scored for ZESCO after 17 minutes in Ndola and Nigerian Chisom Chikatara equalised on 56 minutes in a lively match that hung in the balance until the final whistle.
Wydad will meet Zamalek of Egypt in the two-leg semi-finals during September while ZESCO face Group B winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.
The pairings guarantee a second northversus-south climax to the premier African club competition in four years after Al Ahly of Egypt beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa in 2013.
North African clubs have won the Champions League — formerly the African Cup of Champions Clubs — 28 times while Pirates are the only team from the southern region to lift the trophy.
Wydad, who beat ZESCO 2-0 in Morocco two months ago, topped the final standings with 11 points, ZESCO had nine, record eight-time champions Al Ahly six and ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast five.
ASEC and Ahly drew 0-0 in a final round match at Stade Robert Champroux in Ivorian commercial capital Abidjan where only pride was at stake.
ZESCO twice came close to scoring within a minute before Odhiambo nodded into the net off the crossbar after taking advantage of slack marking at a corner.
Fellow Kenyan Jesse Were wasted a chance to double the lead almost immediately at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium when he blazed over from close range.
Chikatara, a recent signing after lengthy transfer negotiations with Nigerian club Abia Warriors, curled a shot from the edge of the box past goalkeeper Jacob Banda to restore parity.
Congo Brazzaville-born Fabrice Ondama came close to snatching victory for Wydad just before time with his header flying just wide.
Zamalek (EGY) v Wydad Casablanca (MAR)
ZESCO Utd (ZAM) v Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) First legs: Sept 16-18, second: Sept 23-25 Note: aggregate winners qualify for two-leg final.