Seoul power: Felix Magath’s Shandong Luneng sent crashing out of AFC Champions League
Substitute Yun Ju-tae’s coup de grace helps visiting South Korean side end Chinese interest in regional competition to set up a semi-final against Jeonbuk
FC Seoul sent Felix Magath’s Shandong Luneng crashing out of the AFC Champions League, ending Chinese interest in the competition as they powered into the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Substitute Yun Ju-tae provided the coup de grace on 83 minutes, sealing a 1-1 draw in the second leg after Walter Montillo’s opener on 59 minutes had raised hopes among Shandong’s home fans.
After Seoul won the first leg 3-1, they ran out 4-2 aggregate winners and completed another Korean victory over Chinese opposition after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors thrashed Shanghai SIPG 5-0 on Tuesday.
The result also denies China a third Champions League title in four seasons, after Guangzhou Evergrande won in 2013 and 2015, despite the large-scale spending spree by Chinese clubs on players and coaches this year.
Ex-Bayern Munich and Fulham manager Magath was brought in mid-campaign to replace former Brazil boss Mano Menezes, but he couldn’t prevent an all-Korean semi-final with FC Seoul now set to face Jeonbuk later this month.