By Kim Jae-won
Staff Reporter
FC Seoul defeated Sriwijaya FC 4-2 in the opening match in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Group F in Palembang, Indonesia, Tuesday.
Seoul forward Jung Jo-gook opened the scoring, connecting with a cross from fellow striker Dejan Damjanovic in the 32nd minute.
Seoul midfielder Kim Chi-woo doubled the lead with a left-footed shot from a Lee Chung-yong pass in the 57th, and Kim, 25, a South Korean international, added another 10 minutes later.
The Indonesians then hit back with a swift counter-attacking move.
Sriwijaya striker Claude Ngon Djam scored after a long pass from Isnan Ali in 68 minutes, and the Cameroonian found the target again just four minues later, heading the ball into the net.
But the Korean side, managed by Turk Senol Gunes, halted Sriwijaya's late charge as substitue forward Kim Seung-yong's free kick from the left sailed into the net in 77th.
Back in Ulsan, the Tigers lost out to Nagoya Grampus 3-1 in the opening Group E game the same day.
The Koreans had opened brightly, claiming the match's opening goal. Forward Cho Jin-soo put his side ahead with a right-footed shot 24 minutes into the first half.
It took the Japanese club until the second half to strike back.
It was Nagoya defender Maya Yoshida who got the equalizer with a header in the 53rd.
Then the team's Brazilian players netted two goals inside the last 15 minutes.
Striker Jose Silva Do Nascimento Davi made it 2-1, nodding home a corner kick in the 77th.
And midfielder Rafael Farias Tavares Magnum wrapped up the points when he made it 3-1 four minutes from full time.
Elsewhere, defending champion Gamba Osaka crushed Chinese club Shandong Luneng 3-0 in another Group F match in Osaka, Japan, while in Group E, Beijing Guan won 2-0 over Australian counterpart Newcastle Jets.