Kerem Bulut of Western Sydney Wanderers competes for the ball with Lee Woong-Hee of FC Seoul during the AFC Champions League Group G match on March 18, 2015. Source: Getty Images
WESTERN Sydney Wanderers are stirring and coach Tony Popovic says his defending champions hold no fear heading into their crucial Asian Champions League match against FC Seoul on Tuesday night.
The Wanderers sit second in their group with three games remaining but are only ahead of FC Seoul on goal difference, with the top two sides to go through to the knock out phase.
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With former champions Guanzhou Evergrande leading the group and Kashima Antlers last, Tuesday’s clash at Parramatta Stadium will go a long way to deciding who clinches second.
Should the Wanderers win, victory against Kashima in a fortnight, also at home, would secure their progression.
Popovic has ruled out midfielder Nikita Rukavytsya, who injured his hamstring in the Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Melbourne City on Friday and joins the likes of Socceroo defender Matthew Spiranovic (hamstring), Brendan Hamill (thigh), Brendon Santalab (shoulder) and Shannon Cole (collarbone) in the casualty ward.
The coach rated Anthony Golec (groin) a possibility to play. The Wanderers head into Tuesday’s match on the back of late revival in the A-League after thumping Brisbane Roar 4-1 and holding City to a draw.
They will also take confidence from holding FC Seoul to a scoreless draw in South Korea last month, having eliminated them in the semi-finals last year.
The K-League side possess dangerous imports Mauricio Molina, Osmar Barba and Everton Santos, as well as a host of South Korean internationals, but Popovic said his side was not intimidated. “Whoever we play in this competition, we’re the champions so there’s nothing to fear,” he said.
source:news.com.au
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