Shanghai: Moon Seon-min has hailed the superb Lim Sun-young assist that allowed the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward to net his first-ever AFC Champions League goal as the two-time champions claimed a 1-1 draw against Shanghai SIPG on Wednesday.
The first leg of the Round of 16 pitted the champions of China PR and Korea Republic against each other and it took Moon less than a minute to open the scoring and silence the home support inside Shanghai Stadium.
With the outside of his right foot, Lim clipped a pinpoint delivery over the top of the Shanghai defence which Moon latched onto before lifting the ball over Yan Junling to break the deadlock before carrying out one of the more unique celebrations the competition has seen this season.
“I couldn’t miss that chance because the ball through to me was perfect,” admitted Moon, who signed from Incheon United at the beginning of 2019.
“Before the game we had spoken about the importance of scoring early in the game to give ourselves the best possible chance of achieving a positive result.”
1' GOAL! 1-0 @jeonbuk_hyundai
WHAT A START! Moon Seon-Min is picked out with a delightful pass and he puts it away with a lovely dink over the keeper!#SHAvJEO #ACL2019 pic.twitter.com/KDs5CMeWoo
— FOX Sports LIVE! (@FSAsiaLive) June 19, 2019
In what was only his second start of the 2019 AFC Champions League campaign, Moon could and perhaps should have doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 10th minute after a not too dissimilar move.
Korea Republic left-back Kim Jin-su chipped another inch-perfect ball into the path of the lively forward but this time he was thwarted by Yan as the hosts held on.
Shanghai came back into the contest and leveled after 39 minutes when Wang Shenchao headed home Yu Hai’s cross, before Kim Shin-wook and Hulk both missed chances as half-time approached.
FULL-TIME | Shanghai SIPG ?? 1-1 @Jeonbuk_hyundai ??
The tie between Shanghai and Jeonbuk is firmly in the balance after an entertaining 1-1 draw #SHAvJEO #ACL2019 pic.twitter.com/4EPmTxDwBb
— AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL) June 19, 2019
With no further goals after the interval, the sides will reconvene in Korea Republic in a week’s time as Shanghai take to the Jeonju World Cup Stadium pitch for the first time since a 5-0 loss in the second leg of the 2016 quarter-finals.
“I had many chances to add another goal and we had opportunities to win the game but were unable to take them,” added Moon.
“It’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t get the win, but we’ll prepare thoroughly for the second leg, try to beat them at our home and advance to the next stage.”
Source: the-afc.com