FC Seoul played to a 1-1 draw on the road Wednesday against Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the first leg of their quarterfinals at the AFC Champions League.
Striker Dejan Damjanovic gave the reigning K League Classic champion the lead after 10 minutes at King Abdulaziz Sport City Stadium, but Sultan Al-Sawadi tied the score in the 80th minute to salvage a draw for the Saudi Professional League club.
The two teams will play their second leg at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sept. 18. The aggregate score will determine the winner.
Al Ahli was the runner-up at last year's event. FC Seoul failed to advance beyond the AFC quarters in its two previous tries, but can do so either with a victory or a 0-0 draw at home next month.
Under the "away goals" rule, if the teams are tied in total score after both legs, then the one with more goals scored away from home will be declared the winner.
Four K League Classic clubs played in the group stage at this year's AFC Champions League. Pohang Steelers and Suwon Bluewings were knocked out of the opening phase. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors joined FC Seoul in the round of 16 but were eliminated by Kashiwa Reysol of Japan.
The K League Classic has produced three of the past four AFC champions.
Damjanovic, last year's scoring champion and MVP in the K League Classic, ended his AFC scoring drought in the 10th minute.
Following a throw-in, midfielder Go Yo-han sent a low cross to the unmarked striker, who fired past Abdullah Al-Muaiouf.
Al Ahli dominated possession for the remainder of the match.
Bruno Cesar shot a free kick at goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae in the 25th minute. Then in the 45th minute, Mustafa Al-Bassas tested Kim with a low shot. Moments from halftime, Cesar came even closer to tying the score but rang a shot off the right post.
Five minutes into the second half, Al-Bassas shot wide on a breakaway opportunity, and Cesar later forced Kim to make another tough save on a free kick.
Al-Sawadi finally solved the South Korean keeper with 10 minutes left, as Al-Bassas set him up for a wide open chance from left of the FC Seoul box.
Al Ahli almost completed a comeback with five minutes to go, but Kim denied Mansour Al-Harbi from close range.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinals, Kashiwa Reysol of Japan and Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia ended in a 1-1 draw in Kashiwa. Guangzhou Evegrande of China blanked Lkhwiya of Qatar 2-0 at home. And finally, Esteghlal of Iran defeated Thai club Buriram United 1-0 in Tehran. (Yonhap News)
