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| Members of FC Seoul react after their 2-0 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers during the second leg of the AFC Champions League at the Parramatta Stadium in Sydney, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
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Last week was special for South Korean soccer after the U-23 team won gold at the 2014 Asian Games. This was the result of months and years of hard work. It may be true that the 120 minutes against North Korea in Thursday's final were not exactly full of excitement, but there was tension that ended with genuine drama as Rim Chang-woo, an unlikely match-winner, scored the only goal with virtually its last kick. Tears, hugs, dancing, gold medals and military exemption followed.
FC Seoul is in need of such heroes; new stars to replace Dejan Damjanovic and Ha Dae-sung who departed for China in December after helping the club come within a whisker of the 2013 Asian Champions League title. Seoul lost the final against Guangzhou Evergrande on away goals.
On paper, the 2014 version made it almost as far in reaching the semi-final of the continental competition, but in reality, this team is a shadow of last year's vintage. On Wednesday, FC Seoul limped out of the tournament and, the sad thing is, few were sorry to see it go. The team did not deserve to reach the final.
Ahead of the second leg at the home of Western Sydney Wanderers, there was optimism, as there always is in soccer. The first leg, two weeks earlier in the Korean capital, ended goalless. It was a little disappointing but left the tie finely balanced: if Seoul managed to get a precious away goal down under then the host would need to score two.
Yet the two-time K-League champion never looked like breaching the Australian defense. It has been the same story for most of the season. The team is tight in defense _ but then it has to be because it is light in attack.
The problem has become chronic on the continent. By the time the final whistle sounded, the Seoul goal drought in the Asian Champions League had stretched to almost 500 minutes. Predictably going forward with no creativity or imagination, Seoul offered little threat to a Western Sydney team that was well-organized and hard-working but nothing to be feared.
Even so, there is always hope if the defense holds tight but it did not. The Wanderers took advantage of a goalkeeping error to score early and send their passionate fans wild with delight. If the Australians expected a Korean onslaught, it never came.
Seoul had lots of possession but little idea of what to do with it. Mauricio Molina was one of the best players in Asia two or three years ago but the Colombian is a shadow of previous versions. Strikers such as Sergio Escudero and Everton are willing but limited and without the vision of Ha Dae-sung in midfield. It all looks a little flat.
A second goal from Sydney in the second half ended any doubt. If it always looked unlikely that Seoul would score one, two seemed impossible, and so this proved to be true. At the final whistle, the Australian team celebrated in front of its delighted fans and deservedly so.
Seoul faced a long trip home to prepare for Sunday's "SuperMatch" with rival Suwon Bluewings in the K-League. Suwon beat Seoul 1-0.
With fans staying away from the World Cup Stadium _ just 4,000 attended the previous home game, the lowest in years _ the club is already looking to next season. That is understandable, _ everyone will want to forget 2014.
John Duerden writes for the Guardian, BBC Radio 5, ESPN, World Football magazine and the Associated Press. He also contributes to the New York Times and the Daily Telegraph. He can be reached at john.duerden@gmail.com.
