Chris Naumoff scored the only goal just before half-time as Australia’s Sydney FC recorded back-to-back wins in Group H of the AFC Champions League after edging out Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers 1-0 at The Steelyard on Wednesday.
Naumoff fired home from inside the penalty area to seal all three points in a closely fought contest despite late pressure from the home side.
And after beating defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande from China at home earlier this month, Sydney moved above Pohang after the K-League Classic side suffered a first defeat of the campaign.
Most of the chances that came in the opening period were courtesy of set pieces as Sydney’s George Blackwood headed a corner on to the top of the Pohang net after 15 minutes
Moon Chang-jin's free-kick from the edge of the penalty area then hit the Sydney wall before visiting goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic comfortably caught a Shim Dong-woon header.
Pohang again went close just before the half hour mark as Kim Dae-ho broke free down the left and his cross cleared goalkeeper Janjetovic only for Ali Abbas to clear the ball to safety from underneath the crossbar.
But Sydney took the lead three minutes before the break as Blackwood advanced from deep and while his pass looked to be intended for Matt Simon, the ball missed the striker and the Pohang defence to fall at the feet of Naumoff at the far post and the 20 year-old slid the ball past goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong.
Pohang pushed forward in search of an equaliser leaving space at the back and Sydney should have extended their lead at the start of the second half as Simon slipped the ball through to Naumoff and the goalscorer pulled the ball across the area where it made its way to Andrew Hoole on the right corner of the six yard area, but the winger blasted his shot over the crossbar.
The K League Classic team were struggling to create any kind of chance against the well-organised Sydney and the home side were reduced to speculative efforts from distance.
Substitute Yang Dong-hyun came the closest with six minutes remaining, but the striker's low shot from outside the area flew well wide of Sydney's right-hand post.
And just before the end, Pohang captain Hwang Ji-soo blasted over from the edge of the area before Shim followed suit in stoppage time
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