Jubilo defeats Samsung 3-0 in Asian Champions Cup soccer

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Jubilo Iwata of Japan had a 3-0 victory over Samsung Suwon Blue Wings of South Korea in the first match of the Asian Champions Cup quarterfinals at Mattoangin Stadium here on Wednesday.

Both teams played carefully in the first ten minutes before Jubilo's Toshiya Fujita opened the account for his team in the 13th minute by landing the ball into the net of Blue Wings' Soltan Sabo, who used to play for Partisan Belgrade.

Fujita received the feed from old hand midfielder Masashi Nakayama, passing Blue Wings' defender Kim Young-sun.

After the first goal, Nakayama showed his skill by building the offense together with Fujita and Daisuke Ofu in the midfield, but to no avail.

Powered by Sanro Cardovo Dos Santos, Blue Wings started to play more offensively and had at least three good chances. Unfortunately, their efforts were blocked by Jubilo's goalkeeper Arnoldus Theodorus Johannes van Zwam.

In the second half, Blue Wings intensified attacks from the midfield through Seo Jung-won and Dennis Laktionov. Blue Wings' decision to field Shin Hong-ki in the 68th minute helped the team to increase its offense but van Zwan always managed to keep the ball out of the net. He was awarded the Man of the Match title for his efforts.

Jubilo opted to play defensively and only took advantage of counter-attacks.

Dos Santos had a golden chance in the 70th minute but again van Zwan saved the ball. Jubilo took advantage of a counter attack with Fujita passing the ball to Nakayama.

Wrongly anticipating the ball, Blue Wings' defender Yang Jong- hoo made an own goal at the 75th minute for a further 2-0 deficit.

Blue Wings kept up the attacks by fielding Dong Won to replace Park Choong-kyun but it was useless, as Nakayama scored Jubilo's third goal after receiving a pass from Matsushita at the 90th minute.

Referee Ali Bujtain Ali of the United Arab Emirates issued a total of six yellow cards for Blue Wings' Dos Santos, Laktionov and Kim Jin-woo and Jubilo's Makoto Tanaka, Fujita, and Aleksander Zivkovic in the rough and tight match.

South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna officially opened the quarterfinals at 4:30 p.m. local time in front of more than 20,000 spectators.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by traditional dances and formation displays by the local Bugis and Makassar.

The organizing committee deployed a joint force of 1,200 police and soldiers to safeguard the event. There were also security taskforces from local soccer fans helping the authorities.

Tight security was imposed in the stadium, with fans having to pass through three separate security checkpoints. The spectators were not allowed to take bottled drinks or paper into the stadium. (27)