Photos (Top to Bottom): Seongnam's SongHo Young; Ognenovski celebrates his goal; Seongnam's JoJae-cheol [Photos courtesy of World Sport Group]
South Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa won the Asian Football Confederation’s Champions League last night by downing Iran’s Zobahan 3-1 in Tokyo.
And, Australia’s newest selection for the Socceroos, central defender Sasa Ognenovski, was the player who lifted the trophy at the end of the match.
Ognenovski scored the opener for Seongnam Ilhwa in the 29th minute.
His partner in the centre of defence, Cho Byung-kuk headed the second in the 53rd minute.
Mohammad Khalatbari pulled a goal back for Zobahan in the 67th minute with a header, but Kim Cheol-ho restored the South Korean side’s two-goal buffer with their third goal 7 minutes from the end.
Kim Cheoho was the sole survivor from the Seongnam Ilhwa side that lost the 2004 final.
The coach of Seongnam Ilhwa, Shin Tae-yong, had also won the title as a player in 1995 and was a substitute in the second-leg of the 2004 final, which Seongnam Ilhwa lost 5-0 to Al Ittihad, after beating them 3-1 in the first leg in Saudi Arabia.
Ognenovski is also no stranger to losing a final as he was in the Adelaide United side that lost to Gamba Osaka in 2008.
This victory should give Ognenovksi a huge confidence boost ahead of Australia’s match against Egypt in Cairo next Wednesday, when he should make his first appearance for the Socceroos.
Ognenovksi, who is 1.95 metres in height, was a constant threat at set-pieces and his opening goal helped set up the South Korean side’s win.
Seongnam is South Korea’s most successful club side, having won seven K-League titles.
They will compete in the K-League play-offs next week and then compete in the FIFA Club World Cup tournament in Abu Dhabi in December.
Seongnam will meet the winners of the game between Al Wahda and Hekari United for the right to play Inter Milan in the semi-finals.
4 comments:
I didn't think Ogger's distribution has improved much from watching him in that match. I still don't think he's able to distribute the ball as effectively as Verbeek wanted his CBs to do, although Verbeek did play Kisnorbo.
Decentric
Good on you Ogger!!!!
Alf Ramsey
DANK SAYS
Ogger must play in the Asian Cup. Quotes from Lucas Neil in todays fairfax papers indicate he has already gained the respect of the players through his deeds. Would be very handy against Korea in the group game I would've thought.
He is big so he will be valuable against the Asians but he is garbage against bigger opponents and can't pass the ball.
Brazil 2014 at age 35 with his limited abilties no thanks.
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