AFC Champions League: Suwon Bluewings Reaches Last 16 Round

Doha, December 04 (QNA) - Suwon Samsung Bluewings rounded off the eight teams making up the 2020 AFC Champions League (East) round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Group G leaders Vissel Kobe at Khalifa International Stadium on Friday. The Korean side went into the last fixture of the group stage knowing that anything less than a two-goal winning margin against Anders Iniesta and co would see them returning home early. The AFC website said Lee Ki-je’s out-swinging corner was met by a towering header from Kim Gun-hee that left the Japanese goalkeeper helpless to rescue, putting Suwon Samsung Bluewings a goal closer to the knock-out stage. It went from bad to worse for Vissel Kobe; Takuya Yasui’s attempt to clear the ball off the goal line saw him handle it, leading to a Suwon Samsung Bluewings penalty kick. Im Sang-hyeob stepped up and powered in from the spot into the bottom corner despite Maekawa’s best efforts. The win means Suwon Samsung Bluewings set up a Round of 16 encounters against Group H winners Yokohama F. Marinos while it consigns Fabio Cannavaro’s Guangzhou Evergrande to third place and a group-stage exit on goal-difference. (QNA)