A Football Miracle Sends FC Seoul Through in the Champions League

By: Brett | May 23rd, 2009

Going into the sixth and final match day of this seasons Asian Champions League group stage, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Pohang Steelers were already through, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i only needed a draw at home to the Newcastle Jets to join them, and FC Seoul needed not only an away win over a Gamba Osaka side who had been rampant throughout the group stage, but they also needed a point-free Sriwijawa FC side to upset Chinese powerhouse Shandong Luneng. No guess as to who the smart money was on to qualify.

Sometimes the smart money ain’t the smart money.

In a comeback reminiscent of a certain kids ice hockey movie starring a certain Emilio Estevez, a neat finish two minutes into extra time from midfielder Kim Han-yoon gave FC Seoul the win after Macedonian striker Dejan Damjanovic had cancelled out the 64th minute Gamba opener from Japanese wonder-kid Takashi Usami.

Beating Gamba in Osaka is huge in itself. FC Seoul manager Senol Gunes knew this. “We scored and beat them and I’m happy about that.” he commented post-match, “Gamba were a better side than us technically and we managed to match them by playing with all out might.”

It had been quite a turn around for the side from Korea’s capital. The first four games of their campaign had been littered with defensive errors, naive decision making and missed opportunities. And now, it seemed they would be left with nothing but ‘if only’s’ from their first foray into Asia. If only they hadn’t conceded a late equaliser at home to Shandong. If only they’d come home with a point from their trip to China. If only they’d made their possession count against Gamba in Seoul.

But, they’d at least given themselves a shot at qualification for the knockout stage by winning their last two matches. Their eyes now turned to Indonesia.

The news was not good. It was half-time in Indonesia and the Chinese team were two goals to the good. It seemed for all money they were through and Seoul were out. After all, the home side had only scored three times in 520-odd minutes – Seoul needed them to double that tally in the next 45. They were dead.

Only, they weren’t. news from the Jaka Baring Stadium in Palembang began to filter through. The home side had pulled a goal back 8 minutes into the second half. Twenty minutes later they were level, and running all over the visiting side. Seven minutes after that, the lead was theirs. Just for good measure, they added one more in the 87th minute. Seoul were through, Shandong were out. It was a match which provided both the tournaments biggest shock and its biggest miracle. Incredible.

On the same evening in Ulsan, A-League outfit the Newcastle Jets were in town looking for a shock of their own. A win would see them through to the next round, whilst a draw was all that the home team required. They dominated throughout but couldn’t beat the inspired Ben Kennedy in the Newcastle goal. And, as half-time drew near, the away team struck courtesy of a Jason Hoffman header. Ulsan had a heap of chances in the second half to draw level or even take the win, but in the end, they just weren’t good enough. 0-1 it finished.

Three teams out of four K-League teams into the next round. That ain’t bad. That ain’t bad at all. Even Meatloaf knows that. Only the two biggest guns in Asian club football, the J-League in the east and the Saudi league in the west, have more representatives in the round of 16. This is tremendous for Korean football.

The knockout stage kicks off on June 24. Pohang will be part of the only match in the eastern division not containing a Japanese team, when they host Ulsan Hyundai’s slayers, the Newcastle Jets. The Bluewings will be in Japan taking on Nagoya Grampus, as will FC Seoul. The team from the capital will also make the trip across the Sea of Japan to take on last years J-League champions, Kashima Antlers.