Seoul: Urawa Red Diamonds made it through to the AFC Champions League Round of 16 as Group F winners on Wednesday, despite falling to a 1-0 defeat away to FC Seoul in their final group game.
Things were fairly tight at Seoul World Cup Stadium as two teams with contrasting styles clashed, but in the end it was Seoul’s rugged, direct approach that proved more effective.
No nonsense defending set Seoul’s base
Seoul knocked Urawa out on penalties in the Round of 16 in the 2016 AFC Champions League, but Reds ran rampant when the sides came head to head again in Matchday Two of this year’s competition, winning 5-2.
The hosts were clearly determined not to give Mihailo Petrovic’s side the freedom to inflict another defeat here, and adopted a no-nonsense approach from the outset.
Hwang Sun-hong’s players won an impressive 75% of their attempted tackles on the way to victory, and once in possession made sure not to give Reds any second bites at the cherry by sending 35 clearances away from goal.
Reds stuck in the middle with Ju
Urawa bossed possession here with 65.9% of the ball, but only 23.7% of the game’s play took place in the Seoul defensive third – almost the same as that spent at the other end (22.5%).
The discipline of Ju Se-jong in the middle of the park for Seoul helped prevent Reds’ from breaking through, with the 26-year-old rarely straying from the centre circle.
He was also a key outlet for his teammates, receiving 18 passes from centre-back Kim Won-sik (7) and fellow defensive midfielder Lee Seok-hyun (11), as they trusted him to turn defence into attack.
One, two, goal for Seoul
The goal which ultimately sealed victory for FC Seoul epitomised the difference between the two teams.
While Urawa made almost twice as many passes as their hosts (610 to 319), Seoul needed just two to travel more than half the length of the pitch and take all three points.
Maurinho played the first of them in behind for Lee Seok-hyun to run onto, before he in turn nudged the ball across goal for Yoon Seong-won to convert.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com