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Source: AFP

Al Shabab edge Seongnam in thrilling semi-final

Saudi side Al Shabab mounted a thrilling late comeback to secure a 4-3 victory over Korean outfit Seongnam Ilhwa in the first leg of their Asian Champions League semi-final.

Saudi side Al Shabab mounted a thrilling late comeback to secure a 4-3 victory over Korean outfit Seongnam Ilhwa in the first leg of their Asian Champions League semi-final here on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia\'s Al Shabab players Juan Manuel Olivera celebrates a goal during their match against Korea\'s Seongnam Ilhwa during the 2010 AFC Champions League football match at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

The home side trailed 3-2 with 10 minutes to play, but Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera claimed his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute to level the score before substitute Fisal Bin Sultan snatched an 89th-minute winner.

Seven-time K-League champions Seongnam had taken an early lead at the King Fahd International Stadium when former Colombian international Mauricio Molina opened the scoring with a long-range volley in the fourth minute.

Olivera, a recent signing from Universidad de Chile, cancelled out the visitors\' opener when he lobbed home in the 15th minute, only for Jo Jae-Cheol to restore the advantage for Shin Tae-yong\'s men 11 minutes later.

Saudi international Nassir Al Shamrani drew Al Shabab level shortly before the hour mark but Jorge Fossati\'s team once again proved unable to stay on level terms for long as Molina put Seongnam ahead for a third time in the 69th minute.

Molina\'s goals, his sixth and seventh of the tournament, took him to second place in the top scorers standings behind Jose Mota of Suwon Bluewings (9).

Seongnam looked on course for a famous victory, but Olivera stabbed in the equaliser after Jung Sung-ryong had parried his initial header before Bin Sultan claimed the winner to earn his team a narrow first-leg advantage.

The return leg takes place in Korea on October 20, with the final in Tokyo slated for November 13.

Iranian league leaders Zobahan host in-form Saudi champions Al Hilal in the first leg of the other semi-final on Wednesday.

Zobahan are looking to continue their remarkable AFC Champions League run as they bid to emulate fellow Esfahan club Sepahan, who reached the final three years ago.

Hilal, however, are Saudi Arabia\'s most successful club with 12 league titles and they are also on a run of form that has seem them win their last five consecutive Saudi league games.

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