Western Sydney's Asian Champions League defence remains on
track after a 1-1 draw with FC Seoul on Tuesday but they missed a golden
opportunity to take a major step towards progressing to the knock out phase.
Kerem Bulut gave the Wanderers a dream start before Go Yohan
equalised late, brilliant saves by both keepers ensuring the scores remained
level in a frenetic finish.
With both sides equal on points behind group leaders
Guangzhou Evergrande, a win at Parramatta Stadium would have put the Wanderers
in the box seat to progress with the top two teams to go through.
Instead the Wanderers remain in second spot but only ahead
of FC Seoul on goal difference.
The Wanderers' next match against bottom-placed Kashima
Antlers at Parramatta Stadium in a fortnight now looms as a must win for the
reigning champions to go through.
Bulut gave the Wanderers the perfect start when a Iacopo La
Rocca long ball caused panic in the box, the striker taking full advantage to
put the hosts up 1-0 in the 12th minute.
Labinot Haliti had two great first-half opportunities to
double the advantage, his first shot off a back-pass going well wide before
also missing with a diving header from point-blank rage off a great Anthony
Golec ball.
FC Seoul looked like levelling just before the break when
Everton Santos was released on the left, but the Brazilian couldn't convert.
Yun Illok also threatened a minute later but Wanderers
keeper Ante Covic was rarely troubled in the opening half.
The Wanderers where lucky to retain their lead when
Colombian Mauricio Molina's powerful strike was denied by the crossbar in the
52nd minute.
Eager to add more firepower up front, Tony Popovic brought
on Socceroo striker Tomi Juric for Haliti with just under half an hour
remaining.
But the Koreans would score next with substitute Go's
sensational strike off a Santos ball levelling the score in the 72nd minute.
Bulut went in search of a second goal launching on a Yusuke
Tanaka ball to drew a great save from keeper Kim Yong Dae five minutes later.
Wanderers fans were left irate in the dying minutes when
Juric was brought down in the box, the referee waving play on.
Covic pulled out perhaps the save of the match in the dying
minutes, the keeper airborne to diffuse a heavily deflected volley with replays
showing he took the ball over the line with him.
Molina and Myong-Jin Koh also tested Covic with just moments
on the clock.
Kim was also under fire at the other end denying both Romeo
Castalan and Jason Trifiro in the dying stages.
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