Jeonju, South Korea: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ mohican-sporting strike force put them within sight of a third AFC Champions League final as they smashed FC Seoul 4-1 in their semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
A double from Leonardo and goals from Ricardo Lopes and Kim Shin-Wook — all of them with mohican haircuts — scalped Seoul as Jeonbuk seek their second Asian title after winning the competition in 2006.
Jeonbuk took charge of the all-Korean clash with three rapid-fire goals in the first half. After the break, Seoul hit back through Ju Se-Jong before Kim rounded off the scoring six minutes from time.
It was a comprehensive victory for the runaway K-League leaders, who have now scored nine goals in their last two Champions League outings and must feel another trophy is due after they were runners-up in 2011.
At a raucous Jeonju World Cup Stadium, FC Seoul held the hosts until midway through the first half before Jeonbuk took a firm grip on the tie with three goals in 18 minutes.
Brazilian striker Leonardo calmly put Jeonbuk ahead from the penalty spot on 22 minutes after Kim was upended in the box.
Four minutes later, fellow Brazilian Ricardo Lopes played a fine one-two off Kim’s blonde-dyed mohican before nutmegging Seoul goalkeeper Yu Sang-Hun to make it 2-0.
Lopes then turned provider, blasting a low cross which Leonardo stooped and headed for Jeonbuk’s third — before celebrating by striking a taekwondo pose for the home fans.
The party atmosphere was tempered one minute into the second half when Ju rifled the ball into the Jeonbuk net to hand FC Seoul a potential lifeline.
FC Seoul’s Adriano, seeking a record-equalling 13th goal of the competition, headed off-target and then smashed a volley just wide as the visitors finally put the home side under pressure.
But it was Jeonbuk who had the last word when the towering Kim galloped onto a through-ball and slid home Jeonbuk’s fourth in the 84th minute.
FC Seoul host the second leg in three weeks’ time. In the final, the eventual winner will play UAE’s Al Ain or El Jaish of Qatar, whose tie stands at 3-1 to the Emirati side after the first leg on Tuesday.
