Suwon 3-1 SAFFC: Warriors battle to the end

Seo Dong-hyeon seals Suwon's 3-1 win over Singapore Armed Forces from the penalty spot.

SUWON – Korean league champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings booked their place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Singapore Armed Forces on Tuesday.

Bae Ki-jong opened the scoring in the Group G clash early in the first half and though Alexander Duric equalised for the Singapore club just before the interval, Lee Sang-ho quickly restored Suwon’s lead on the stroke of half-time before Seo Dong-hyeon’s late penalty sealed the win.

The three points was enough to eliminate Shanghai Shenhua and send Suwon into the knockout stage along with Japan’s Kashima Antlers.

Just four minutes had elapsed when Hong Sun-hak sprinted past the Warriors’ right-back and fired over a cross that was headed in from close range by a completely unmarked Bae.

Suwon continued to push forward in search of a second but it was not all one-way traffic.

Ahmad Latiff had a good chance to level the score after 15 minutes as a deflected shot fell into his path on the edge of the area. Despite having a good deal of space, the striker shot tamely into the arms of Lee Woon-jae.

But four minutes before the break, SAF shocked their hosts with an equaliser. Shaiful Esah curled in a free-kick from the right for veteran Duric to climb above the Suwon defence and head powerfully past Lee.

The visitors’ celebrations were short-lived though as Suwon restored their lead in similar fashion as Lee Sang-ho found space inside the area to head Kim Dae-eui’s free-kick into the net.

SAF continued to look dangerous in the second period, causing the two-time Asian Club Championship winners a number of nervy moments.

Seven minutes after the break, John Wilkinson almost put SAF back on level terms, shooting just wide after the Suwon defence failed to clear their lines.

The Singapore league champions kept coming forward and with 19 minutes remaining Duric almost grabbed his second, lifting the ball over Li Weifeng only to see his well-struck shot saved by Lee.

Kim Dae-eui almost sealed the win with 14 minutes remaining with a left-footed free-kick rocket that appeared destined for the top corner before goalkeeper Shahril Jantan tipped the ball over.

But Shahril was sent off in the dying moments after being adjudged to have brought down Bae in the penalty area.

Seo made no mistake sending reserve keeper Toh Guo’an the wrong way from the spot to seal the win and send his team through.