Bluewings breeze to Korean Cup glory
Reuters - Monday 09 November 2009, 08:03
SEOUL - Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae saved two
penalties in a shootout to help Suwon Bluewings edge Seongnam
Chunma in the Korean FA Cup final, earning the winners a spot
in the 2010 Asian Champions League.
After Sunday's match ended 1-1, the South Korea
international rekindled memories of the 2002 World Cup, when
his penalty block against Spain helped the co-hosts reach the
semi-finals, by saving two spot-kicks in a shootout Suwon won
4-2.
Suwon coach Cha Bu-keun said a burning desire to play in
next season's AFC Champions League (ACL) had driven his team.
"It was a tough match and I want to thank all the players
for a good show," Cha told the Asian Football Confederation's
website. "We really wanted to play in the ACL next year because
we did not do very well this year."
Dzenan Radonocic put Seongnam ahead in the 26th minute but
Brazilian Edu kept Suwon alive with an 87th minute penalty and
the match remained locked at 1-1 after extra-time.
Lee saved shots from Kim Sung-hwan and Jeon Kwang-jin after
Tiago missed for Suwon.
"I saw Pohang's win in the ACL (final on Saturday) and I
must say I envy them. But it also tells us a lot of things,"
Cha said.
"As a coach, to be number one in Asia, number one in the
world, is a goal."