Shandong Luneng's Gil (R) competes for the ball against FC Seoul's Dejan Damjanovic. (Photo : Getty Images)
Chinese Super League giants Shandong Luneng Taishan FC settled for a goalless draw with K League Classic powerhouse FC Seoul in a 2016 AFC Champions League group stage match held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea on Tuesday.
With the tie, the Taishan Dui failed in its attempt to level with the capital city team as Seoul retained its three point lead over the CSL side in Group F of Asia's premier club continental competitions.
It was a major improvement in effort, though, for head coach Mano Menezes' squad after they suffered a 1-4 beating in the hands of the Koreans during their first meeting on March 16th at the former's home field of Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium.
Seoul's 28-year-old Brazilian forward Adriano was ferocious that day, scoring a brace at the 28th and 71st minutes to help destroy Shandong right at their home turf, as reported by Yonhap News. However, the 5-foot-8 Valença, Brazil native was not able to replicate his previous performance in this match.
A couple of missed chances from both sides highlighted the first half of play as Seoul's team captain, Spanish defender Osmar Barba, hit the post during his attempt at the 16th minute of the match while Shandong's newly-acquired import, Brazilian Gil formerly of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A champions Corinthians, shot a wide header a few minutes later.
Korean midfielder Ju Se-jong and striker Yun Ju-tae had superb opportunities late in the second half, but both players wasted them with Ju's "shot from the edge of the area flew over the Shandong crossbar" and Yun's "shot was deflected just wide", as per ESPN.
Both teams still have two games left in the group stage and is more likely to finish the round as the top two squads of Group F.
With that, they will qualify to the next round, which is the knockout stage, where 16 teams from the top two club of all eight groups will compete in a knockout format to determine who will be this season's Champions League winners in Asia.
Shandong is set to face Japanese squad Sanfrecce Hiroshima next while Seoul will clash with Thailand club Buriram United also in the ensuing matchday.
