A player from South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings jumps to kick to Mohammed Kasola of Qatar’s Al Sadd during their AFC Champions League semi-final match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon yesterday. Al Sadd and Suwon Bluewings players brawled on the pitch after the Qataris had taken a 2-0 lead. (Reuters
Agencies/Seoul

Mamadou Niang’s two second-half goals fired Al Sadd to the brink of a place in the 2011 AFC Champions League final following a highly-charged semi-final first leg against Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Suwon World Cup Stadium yesterday.
After a goalless first period, Niang opened the scoring in the 70th minute thanks to a deflected shot from outside the box before Al Sadd caught Suwon off guard with a quickly-taken free-kick and the former Marseille striker rounded keeper Jung Sung-ryong to double the lead.
That incensed Suwon, who felt the visitors were guilty of unsporting behaviour following a head injury to Choi Sung-hwan, and chaotic scenes ensued as tempers frayed with both sides coming to blows.
After order was restored, both Abdulkader Keita and Stevica Ristic were sent-off before Niang also saw red in stoppage time after collecting a second booking for kicking the ball away.
The first real attempt on goal came after 13 minutes when Yang Sung-min’s long-range effort stung the hands of goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr.
Lee Sang-ho then came within a whisker of giving Suwon the lead six minutes later. The Al Sadd defence failed to deal with a Ristic’s cross from the right and allowed the ball to bounce through to Lee Sang-ho who, under pressure on the edge of the six-yard box, slid his first-time shot just wide of the post.
That seemed to sting the visitors, who were tidy in possession without really threatening, into action and they almost silenced the home crowd when Khalfan Ibrahim touched the ball back to Keita 25 yards from goal and the Ivory Coast star unleashed a stunning strike that whistled past Jung but crashed against the top of the cross bar.
Al Sadd again went close after 25 minutes. Keita fed Niang on the edge of a crowded area and he skipped past Mato Neretljak but stabbed his shot agonisingly wide of the post.
Suwon hit the woodwork five minutes before the break when Park Jung-jin’s shot from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off the back of Al Sadd’s Korea Republic international Lee Jung-soo and smacked the bar with Saqr stranded.
Seconds later, Yeom Ki-hoon scooped a shot high and wide from just inside the area.
Suwon began the second-half with purpose and Al Sadd were forced to defend resolutely. Yeom saw a long-range effort batted away by Saqr on the hour and shortly after, his corner found Neretljak virtually unmarked at the far post but the defender headed the ball straight into the ground.
Al Sadd then shocked the hosts with a goal out of nothing with 20 minutes remaining. The Qataris broke down the Suwon left, Niang cut inside just outside the area and his shot took a huge deflection off Ibrahim’s chest to deceive the wrong-footed Jung.
Al Sadd then sealed victory with just under 10 minutes remaining. Following Choi’s injury, Keita knocked the ball forward to an unmarked Niang with Suwon standing watching, expecting to have possession returned. The striker did not hesitate, though, and took the ball round Jung before firing into the net.
That sparked unsavoury scenes after which Keita and Ristic were both dismissed, while Niang petulantly got himself sent-off in stoppage time for kicking the ball away, meaning Al Sadd will have to defend their advantage next week without their suspended strike duo.