Al Ittihad to AFC CL semis despite loss to FC Seoul

A late Mauricio Molina strike was not enough to rescue FC Seoul as they exited the 2011 AFC Champions League despite a 1-0 victory over Al Ittihad in the second leg of their quarter-final clash at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The Colombian found the back of the net with six minutes to go but trailing 3-1 from the first game, it was too little too late from the hosts, who struggled to break down a disciplined and resolute Al Ittihad defence that for the most part limited the K-League title-holders to half-chances and set-piece opportunities. Seoul pushed forward from the beginning but it was Al Ittihad who looked more dangerous and Kim Yong-dae was the first goalkeeper to be called into action. With 12 minutes gone, Sultan Al Numare picked up possession just outside the area and unleashed a fierce shot that had Kim flying across his goal to push it away for a corner. As the half progressed, Seoul started to enjoy more of the ball and had the Saudi Arabians on the back foot but were still struggling to create clear chances in a packed penalty area. The visitors looked threatening on the counter-attack but neither side could find a breakthrough before the interval. A similar pattern emerged after the break. The hosts pushed forward in numbers but found equally numerous yellow shirts blocking the path to goal. Five minutes into the second period, Molina curled a free-kick just over the bar and after 61 minutes Seoul finally got behind the Saudi defence but Choi Tae-wook's low cross from the byline was cut out by Hamad Al Montashari with Dejan Damjanovic loitering inside the six-yard box. Seoul started to turn up the pressure and within seconds, Mabrouk Zaid was stretching to palm another free-kick away for a corner. The attacks grew increasingly desperate but the likes of Rashed Al Rahab, Al Montashari and Osama Al Harbi held the line and continued to deny the Korea Republic team any time or space. With seven minutes remaining, Damjanovic fired over from outside the area and just when the game seemed to be heading for a stalemate, Molina intervened to give the home fans hope. The ex-Colombian international collected the ball on the edge of the area, picked his spot and curled a shot into the top-right corner of the Al Ittihad net, giving Zaid no chance. The strike set up a grandstand finish but Seoul were unable to get the all-important second, with Kang Jung-hun's misplaced header from a Molina corner the closest they came as Al Ittihad hung on to book a semi-final spot with a 3-2 aggregate victory.