SAITAMA,
Japan — Two-time continental kings
Urawa Reds
thrashed Thailand’s BG Pathum United 4–0 on Monday to set up an Asian Champions
League semi-final against Jeonbuk Motors.
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Pathum were playing in the Champions League
quarter-finals for the first time, but in front of Urawa’s vociferous fans in
Saitama they were never really in it.
Swedish forward David Moberg Karlsson rifled
in after 32 minutes to put Japanese outfit Urawa on their way, and 10 minutes
later it was 2–0 thanks to Takuya Iwanami.
It was more of the same in the second half as
Pathum fell apart. Yoshio Koizumi fired into the bottom corner, and Takahiro
Akimoto hit a fourth with a powerful effort into the top corner.
Like Jeonbuk, Urawa are chasing a hat-trick
of Asian titles, having won Asia’s top club competition in 2007 and 2017.
The two clash on Thursday in another
one-legged affair in Saitama.
In the earlier quarterfinal, again in
Saitama, Jeonbuk roared back to score twice in extra time in a 3–1 win over
Vissel Kobe.
Brazilian substitute Gustavo headed home in
the 104th minute to put the South Koreans ahead and Moon Seon-min put gloss on
the scoreline at the death as Kobe searched for an equalizer.
Kobe were missing Spanish legend Andres
Iniesta and made seven changes to the side that stunned fellow Japanese outfit
Yokohama F Marinos last week in the last 16.
But the J-League strugglers were the better
side against Jeonbuk of the K-League in the first half in front of a smattering
of fans.
Kobe took the lead in the 64th minute when
substitute midfielder Koya Yuruki turned the ball in from close range when
Jeonbuk goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo fumbled.
Kobe’s lead lasted just two minutes.
Jeonbuk’s Gambian forward Mo Barrow raced up the other end and slotted the ball
between the legs of advancing goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa after the Kobe defense
went missing.
The Korean side, continental champions in
2006 and 2016, were now making the more clear-cut chances with former Leeds and
Swansea man Barrow a constant threat for Jeonbuk.
Barrow provided the cross in extra time for striker
Gustavo to climb highest at the back post and ram in to make it 2–1, before
Moon made sure of the win in the 122nd minute.
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