Jubilo Iwata 3 vs 1 Suwon Samsung

Japan’s Jubilo Iwata earned an early psychological advantage in the first round of matches in the eastern quarter-finals of the Asian Club Championship with a 3-0 win over Suwon Bluewings of Korea.

The Japanese took the three points through goals by Toshiya Fujita, an own goal by Yang Jong-hu and a last-minute strike by Masashi Nakayama.

But the scoreline disguised the true story of the match as Suwon dominated, hitting the woodwork three times as Jubilo goalkeeper Arno van Zwam put in a man-of-the-match winning performance.

Fujita gave the 1999 champions the lead after just 14 minutes, the Japanese international turning brilliantly to beat the Korean defence after Masashi Nakayama rolled Nobuo Kawaguchi’s ball into his path.

But while Jubilo led, it was Suwon who controlled the half and should have gone into the interval at least on level terms.

The twin axis of Denis Laktionov and Ko Jong-su, so often the source of creativity for Suwon, tormented the Jubilo back line, both in normal play and from set pieces.

In the 27th minute Ko slid the ball through to Laktionov but his shot was blocked by Jubilo’s Dutch keeper Arno van Zwam.

Three minutes later Seo Jung-won’s overhead kick after Ko’s chip into the penalty area sailed over the crossbar but the closest call came after 32 minutes, when van Zwam’s punch of a Laktionov corner fell at the feet of Zoltan Sabo. The Yugoslav defender’s shot from the edge of the area flew low through a crowd of players and was deflected onto the post before the Jubilo defence cleared.

Then, against the run of play, Jubilo almost doubled their tally, Aleksander Zivkovic sending Daisuke Oku through. After shrugging off the attentions of Kim Young-sun, Oku tried to round Sin Bum-chul, but the Suwon keeper stretched out to deny the 25-year-old midfielder.

Still Suwon pressed. Laktionov’s 40th minute free-kick was touched over the bar by van Zwam. Two minutes later the keeper was on hand again, this time to deny Ko from a free-kick on the edge of the area.

And, with just one minute left in the half, Brazilian Sandro Cardoso rattled the Jubilo crossbar after Park Choong-kyun’s cut-back found him lurking on the edge of the area.

Jubilo’s troubles continued into injury time when Ko cheekily attempted to beat van Zwam from wide on the right but his inswinging free-kick just cleared the goal.

Suwon’s domination didn’t end with the half-time whistle, however, and it was much the same story in the second half as van Zwam remained the Korean club’s nemesis.

Six minutes after the restart the 31-year-old dropped to his left to turn Park Kun-ha’s goal-bound shot around the post after good work down the right by Sandro and Laktionov.

On the hour mark he pushed substitute Seo Dong-won’s effort wide after Laktionov’s header from Ko’s corner had, once again, hit the Jubilo woodwork.

And with 19 minutes left on the clock he did well again, this time to deny Sandro, whose long range, right-footed effort van Zwam guided over the bar.

Then came Jubilo’s 77th minute sucker punch as Oku broke forward, drawing in the Suwon defence before releasing Fujita down the right. His ball across the face of goal, bound for Nakayama, was turned into his own goal by Yang Jong-hu.

The goal all but took the fight out of Suwon and, as time ran out, Jubilo claimed a third, Nakayama, quiet for most of the night, racing in before unleashing his low shot under the body of Sin.

from AFC website