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Western Sydney sit in the box seat to make the Asian Champions League decider, holding FC Seoul to a scoreless draw in the first leg of their semi-final clash in South Korea.
The Wanderers had scored in every match of their maiden ACL campaign until Wednesday’s stalemate at Seoul World Cup Stadium where the hosts were left to rue several spurned chances.
Western Sydney will now host last year’s ACL runners up at Parramatta Stadium in the second leg on October 1 where victory will ensure the Wanderers join Adelaide United as just the second A-League club to make the ACL final.
The Wanderers displayed all the confidence of the side who’d knocked out the ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande last month, dominating possession in the opening stages before the five-time K-League champions began to take hold of the match.
Western Sydney lacked firepower up front without key strikers Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab along with utility Shannon Cole, who were all suspended, but their defence delivered.
All three will be back for the return leg in a fortnight.
Labinot Haliti led the attack and created the first chance of the match just seven minutes in, which was easily saved by FC Seoul keeper Yu Sang-Hun.
Soon it was the hosts on the attack with Park Hee-Seong attempting a strike which deflected wide.
Striker Sergio Escudero capitalised on a defensive error from Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Brendan Hamill to make a charge for goal moments later.
Luckily for the Wanderers Hamill caught up with the Spaniard to deflect his shot wide.
The Wanderers’ bearded Brazilian Vitor Saba, making his starting debut, then had the Seoul gloveman scrambling with a dangerous slice which went just wide.
FC Seoul looked like breaking the deadlock just before halftime when Park Hee-Seong struck but Wanderers keeper Ante Covic saved the effort.
Seoul coach Choi Yong-Soo made his attacking intent clear after the break, bringing on dangerous Colombian Mauricio Molina and lighting fast Brazilian Everton Santos. Both threatened.
Molina tested Covic with 20 minutes remaining, launching onto a well-placed cross from Cha Du-Ri and the Colombian drew another save from the gloveman just minutes later.
Saba showed his crafty skill to shake three markers in the dying stages and attempt a strike which sailed over the crossbar.
Haliti could have scored the crucial away goal in the final minutes, getting onto a great ball to the back post but miss-hit it.
Seoul would have one last crack before the final whistle with Covic diffusing a Santos strike to keep the score 0-0.
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