FC Seoul players Kim Jin Kyu (left) and Kim Ju Young celebrate after their team scored against the Central Coast Mariners in their AFC Champions League match played at Gosford yesterday. (AFP)
AFP/Sydney
FC Seoul leapfrogged Central Coast Mariners to the top of Group F through an own goal in stoppage time in their AFC Champions League match yesterday.
Last season’s ACL runners-up looked headed for a scoreless draw in Gosford until Mariners skipper John Hutchinson put Cha Du-Ri’s cross past his goalkeeper Liam Reddy.
It was a deserved win for the South Koreans, who dominated the second half after the home side had failed to convert their first-half chances.
Reddy had defied FC Seoul with a series of magnificent saves, but in the end it took one of his teammates to score the elusive goal for the South Koreans.
Seoul’s Brazilian midfielder Rafael forced a fingertip save from Reddy in the first half, while Cha Du-Ri nearly broke the crossbar with a fierce drive as the rebound narrowly failed to cross the line.
Sergio Escudero was denied by Reddy on the hour and the keeper again came to his side’s aid as Yun Il-Lok bore down on goal.
Reddy then prevented Go Yo-Han from scoring a seemingly certain goal as the Mariners increasingly found themselves on the back foot.
FC Seoul now have the edge heading into next week’s final group game against Beijing Guoan at home, while the Mariners must beat back-to-back J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan to have any chance of advancing out of the group.
“The first thing we’ll do when we walk into the dressing room is put our arms around ‘Hutch’ and pick him up,” said Mariners coach Phil Moss.
“He’s a fantastic Mariner on and off the field and he doesn’t deserve that. But that’s football, sometimes these things happen,” he added.
