Interview: 'We got the job done', Osmar

With a 4-1 win over Malaysian side Kedah FA, FC Seoul officially 'got the job done', according to midfielder Osmar, and booked their place in Group E of the 2020 AFC Champions League. Park Chuyoung from the spot, Park Dongjin, Osmar at both ends of the field, and Alibaev were all on the score sheet as Seoul put in a professional performance at Sangam on Tuesday night.

Speaking after the match, Osmar spoke of his satisfaction of how the night eventually panned out: "We got the job done. Now we can start preparing. It is still pre-season, I would say. I think we need a little bit more training. I can feel, some players and myself included, we are not 100%. We have now a few weeks to keep preparing."

With several key names absent, including 2019 captain Go Yohan, Choi Yongsoo’s FC Seoul side effectively picked itself ahead of the AFC Champions League qualification playoff against Malaysian cup winners Kedah FA. Ko Kwangmin and Kim Hangil occupied the flanks in the absence of the aforementioned Go Yohan as well as new recruit Kim Jinya due to the former Incheon man's involvment with the AFC U23 Championships, whilst fledgling centre half Kim Jusung started at centre back with Osmar as a defensive midfielder and Ju Sejong as skipper in central midfield alongside Alibaev.

In the first 45 minutes at Sangam, the visitors Kedah kept things tight and made life difficult for Seoul. Goalkeeper Mohd Shahril Sa Ari was in fine form, also, keeping the likes of Park Chuyoung and Park Dongjin at bay. Meanwhile, the rest of his teammates in front of him were content to sit back and allow Seoul to attempt to break them down whilst looking to exploit the the pace and energy of Tchetche Kipre and and Kpah Sean Sherman up front who were proving to be a handful for Seoul’s back three.

However, that was until centre back Renan Alves left referee with Omar Mubarak no choice but to point to the spot and produce a second yellow on account of what was almost a farcical handball. Alves' 'save' wouldn't have looked out of place on a volleyball court, parrying Park Chuyoung's corner from the left-hand side, inside the box.

[READ: Guide to the 2020 AFC Champions League]

Despite the protests, the penalty was awarded and a red card was brandished. Park Chuyoung, who scored three penalties last season, put the ball on the spot before slotted home, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way down to his right with a powerful strike straight down the middle with 39 minutes on the clock.

Shortly after the restart, Seoul found themselves two goals to the good. Park Chuyoung's strike partner Park Dongjin heading goal-ward from the six-yard line, latching onto a perfectly flighted Ikromjon Alibaev cross.



However, Seoul's 2-0 advantage was short lived as Kedah were allowed back into the game via an unfortunate own goal from Osmar. Despite the Spaniard's attempt to head clear a Kedah free-kick from the right, the ball flew past Seoul goalkeeper Yu Sanghoon and into the back of the net.

Osmar was able to redeem himself, though, with a free kick of his own which allowed Seoul to restore their two-goal advantage. Kedah midfielder Muhammad Hadin Azman was penalised for handball, allowing Park Chuyoung and Osmar to stand over. Osmar took and drilled the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-1 with just over an hour played.

"I don't recall scoring at both ends before", Osmar jokes. "I felt really bad because it was 2-1 and we could start getting nervous. Actually, we had a few minutes where we made a few mistakes, [it was] not good timing for an own goal but luckily we could overcome this.

"I have experience. I know if, a player like me, a foreigner here in Seoul, if I get down I carry all the team with me. That's how I feel so if I put my head down and don't play good and my head is out of the game, I can carry more players into this mental level so I told myself that this cannot happen and let's keep going", he added.

Keep going is exactly what Seoul did, eventually finding a fourth goal to put the game beyond doubt. The provider of Seoul's second goal, Alibaev, capped off a very impressive performance by getting himself on the score sheet. The Uzbekistan international found space on the edge of the box, ushered the ball onto his right foot before curling the ball into the far corner. 

It was a professional performance all round but one negative was the injury to new signing Han Chanhee who, despite coming off the bench in the second half, was forced to cut his debut short with an ankle injury.

Seoul will now compete in AFC Champions League Group E along with Chinese FA Cup winners Beijing Guoan, 2019 Thai League Champions Chiangrai United, and A-League side Melbourne Victory.

The full interview with Osmar is available now via K League United Patreon for K2 Champion subscribers and above.