Sports

Suwon books semis ticket

September 19, 2018
South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong (2nd L) celebrates the victory with teammates against South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors during their AFC Champions League quarterfinal second leg match in Suwon Wednesday. — AFP
South Korea's Suwon Samsung Bluewings goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong (2nd L) celebrates the victory with teammates against South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors during their AFC Champions League quarterfinal second leg match in Suwon Wednesday. — AFP

HONG KONG — Goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong was the hero for Suwon Bluewings as the two-time continental champions booked their place in the semifinals of the Asian Champions League Wednesday with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over fellow South Koreans Jeonbuk Motors.

Jeonbuk, champions in 2006 and 2016, went into the game trailing 3-0 from the first leg three weeks ago, but Choi Kang-hee's side scored three unanswered goals before Adriano saw Shin save his stoppage time penalty to take the game into extra time.

Shin then kept out penalties from Kim Shin-wook and Lee Dong-gook in the shootout to give Suwon victory in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Suwon won the first leg comfortably only to be level on aggregate by the 71st minute as Jeonbuk shook off the lethargy that affected its previous performance.

Brazilian striker Adriano took the ball round Shin to score from close range with less than 11 minutes on the clock and Choi Bo-kyung's close range header six minutes after the restart left Suwon with a solitary goal advantage.

That was erased when substitute Kim Shin-wook powered his header into the top corner with 20 minutes remaining. Jeonbuk looked set to claim a stunning winner in stoppage time, only for Shin to dive to his right to deny Adriano's spot kick.

The deadlock continued throughout 30 minutes of extra time before Shin's shootout heroics.

Suwon will now face Kashima Antlers in the semifinals, with the first leg to be played on Oct. 3 in Japan and the return in South Korea three weeks later. Qatar's Al-Sadd will meet Persepolis of Iran in the other semifinal. — Reuters


September 19, 2018
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