Koroki: We got the minimum and the advantage
Shanghai: Urawa Red Diamonds striker Shinzo Koroki (pictured left) feels his side are marginal favourites to progress to the 2017 AFC Champions League final after a 1-1 draw away to Shanghai SIPG in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.
Urawa won the title back in 2007 but haven’t made it to the final in the intervening 10 years, but Yosuke Kashiwagi’s (pictured right) 15th-minute strike at Shanghai Stadium delivered a crucial away goal ahead of the second leg on October 18.
Koroki set up that strike with a deft touch back to Kashiwagi just inside the area, and feels it could prove decisive.
“We knew it was going to be an incredibly difficult game away from home and it ended up being as tough as we’d expected,” the 31-year-old said.
“But we got the minimum we wanted with a 1-1 draw, and I think that gives us an advantage heading into the next game at home.”
The former Kashima Antlers man knows nothing is decided yet though, and is demanding improvements ahead of the second leg.
“I think we could have played a little more in our attacking style if I had done a bit better at keeping the ball up front. It’s good to be harsh on yourself, and I feel like I should have done a little better in that sense.”
He has no plans to hold back on the front line, however, and despite being caught offside a few times in the first leg he plans to keep the pressure up on SIPG’s defence next time out in order to take another step closer to glory.
“Those things can be tight, and whereas this time they were offsides next time I will try to pay even more attention to the offside line and keep looking to get in behind.
“Personally I’ve never won an Asian title and this is one I really want to get. I feel this is now a really critical moment.
“Next we’ll be at home and I’m sure there will be a lot of fans there so we want to do our very best for them.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com
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