The AFC Champions League Semi Finals concludes on Wednesday evening, and it’s an all K League clash in the Eastern side of the competition. The competition is split into Western and Eastern Zones right up until the final. Jeonbuk Hyundai and FC Seoul are the two top sides currently in the K League and have been strong all season in the Champions League as well. The Chinese Super League might have received a lot more coverage but Jeonbuk and Seoul have kept the K League on top. Jeonbuk obviously have been in the headlines recently for the wrong reasons due to a large fine and point deduction for bribery.
Details from the 1st Leg CLICK HERE
Here is our brief preview, head-to-head details and prediction for FC Seoul vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai;
FC Seoul vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai (Wednesday October 19th 2016)
FC Seoul:
FC Seoul have finished Champions League Runners-up twice in their history and continue in their (unlikely) quest to go one better. They eased though the group stages, but required penalties to get past Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the round of 16, but did ease past Shandong Luneng in the Quarter Finals. In the league they’re currently level on points with Jeonbuk, thanks to Jeonbuk’s point reduction. FC Seoul have only 3 wins in 4 games, at the weekend they eased past Ulsan 2-0.
Key Player: Brazilian Adriano is the Asian Champions League top scorer with 12 goals from 10 games. He scored in the league at the weekend and could be Seoul’s only hope of making the final.
Jeonbuk Hyundai:
Jeonbuk have won the AFC Champions once before 10 years ago, they also reached the final back in 2011. They are currently top of the K League but level on points with FC Seoul, with only 4 games to go. They are champions 2 seasons running now. They are undefeated in the league this season, but lost twice in the Champions League group stages and where knocked out of the Korean FA Cup to 2nd tier Bucheon 1995. There recent form has been mixed with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat which was this past weekend at home against Jeju United.
Key Player: 30 year old Brazilian winger Leonardo is playing his 5th season for Jeonbuk and has been a key player here, he will be pulling the strings moving forward and was rested at the weekend and therefore will be fresh here.
Head-to-Head:
They’ve played 44 times before and the record stands at;
Jeonbuk – 16 wins
FC Seoul – 14 wins
Draws – 14
Jeonbuk have won all 4 encounters so far this season (1-0, 3-2, 3-1, 4-1). FC Seoul have won only 1 of the last 10 clashes.
Prediction:
FC Seoul 1 – 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai
Jeonbuk Hyundai lost for the first time in the league this past weekend, opening up the K League title race. However this is the Champions League and FC Seoul have nothing to lose, we see them coming out attacking and finally scoring late in the first half. However Jeonbuk will equalize on the break during the second half.
FC Seoul vs. Jeonbuk Hyundai Result & Photos
FC Seoul 2-1 (3-5 agg) Jeonbuk Hyundai
Jeonbuk Hyundai might have lost on the night but following their 4-1 win in the first leg progress to the final. They will face UAE side Al Ain in home and away legs next months and will be favorites to win. Seoul played much better last night and still have the chance of doing a domestic double.
Highlights:
Finally
For information on the all of our previous K League Round by Round Previews and More: CLICK HERE
As always if you have anything you’d like to add please let us know. We will try and keep things updated as best as possible via Twitter (and little via Facebook).
Tim
Modern Seoul
tim@modernseoul.org
Modern Seoul 