Rampant Seoul pump in five against Chiangrai, boost hopes
KOREA Republic’s FC Seoul cruised to a 5-0 victory over Thailand’s Chiangrai United in Group E of the 2020 AFC Champions League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
Playing in their maiden AFC Champions League campaign, Chiangrai United went into the game hoping to improve on their two 1-0 defeats before the CO ID-1 stoppage, while FC Seoul needed a win to boost their qualification chances.
FC Seoul had their first major chance after 13 minutes when a string of quick passes saw the ball fed to Kim Jinseong on the edge of the box and he took a half-volleyed effort with his left that swerved just wide of the post.
Chiangrai United responded a minute later through Shinnaphat Leeaoh who collected the ball inside the opposition box after a throw in and drilled a shot that just missed the target.
It was the Koreans who opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Hang Sunggyu. FC Seoul’s opener was expertly set up by former Arsenal forward Park Chu-young who calmly controlled a cross from the right at the far post and played it back across goal for Hang to slot home.
FC Seoul came really close to doubling their lead just before the half-hour mark when Park curled a free-kick from just outside the box towards the top corner, but goalkeeper Saranon Anuin produced a fantastic reflex save to limit the deficit to one goal going into the break.
Head coach Lee Won-jun’s side cemented their lead with a second goal nine minutes after the restart as Jung Hanmin rounded the goalkeeper following a quick one-two and applied a composed finish from a tight angle.
Substitute Yun Ju-tae added his name to the scoresheet in the th minute. He received the ball on the edge of the box, twisted and turned before unleashing a powerful low drive into the bottom corner of Chiangrai United’s net to make it 3-0.
Just three minutes later, Yun doubled his personal tally. Spanish midfielder Osmar fired a free-kick low and around the wall. His attempt was parried by the goalkeeper into the path of the forward who tapped in the rebound into the back of the net for the Korean side’s fourth goal of the evening.
Another substitute, Lee In-gyu rounded off the scoring in added time, advancing into space down the right to latch onto Yun’s pass and fire home the fifth.
The result means FC Seoul remain in second place in Group E but move three points clear of third-placed Melbourne ictory and within three points of leaders Beijing FC. Chiangrai United’s wait for a first AFC Champions League goal and point continues as they sit bottom of the group after three matches.