CHUNNAM – Korean FA Cup holders Chunnam Dragons enjoyed their first victory of 2007 as they defeated Indonesian Cup holders Arema Malang 2-0 in a Group F clash in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.
 
Kim Tae-su and Sandro Cardoso scored in the second half to put away the Indonesian side who proved more than a match for their K-League hosts for much of the game
 
Chunnam were held to a goalless draw by Bangkok University in their opening game but with the Thai side holding Kawasaki Frontale to a 1-1 draw in Japan, the Koreans grabbed a share of top spot with the J.League side in Group F.
 
If Chunnam had been buoyed by their Japanese rivals dropping two points earlier in the day, they didn’t show it in the early stages as they started slowly, only mounting their first serious attack in the 10th minute.
 
It should have been resulted in a goal as Sandro Hiroshi found Kim Tae-su on the left corner of the six yard-box. The midfielder’s left-foot shot gave goalkeeper Achmad Kurniawan no chance but the ball cannoned off the bar and rebounded to safety.

The bar was still vibrating a minute later as the visitors enjoyed an amazing escape. A Chunnam corner kick found its way to Kang Min-soo standing on the goalline but the defender, called up to the national team squad earlier in the week, somehow turned the ball past the post.
 
Arema’s first serious attempt on goal came on the half-hour when Patricio Morales’ shot from the edge of the area trickled tamely into the arms of Yeom Dong-gyun in the Chunnam goal.
 
The first half ended with Kurniawan saving comfortable from Sandro Hiroshi.
 
The opening half may have been a disappointing one for the hosts but the deadlock was broken three minutes after the restart when Kim Seong-jae floated a ball into the box and, with the offside flag staying down, Kim Tae-su ran on to blast home from close range.
 
Chunnam continued to attack but the Indonesians reminded Huh Jung-moo’s men of the need for vigilance from time to time.

Morales broke down the left but with two blue shirts in the penalty area to aim at, his cross was far too long.
 
A minute before the hour, the visitors should have been back on level terms. Ponaryo Astaman beat the offside trap but with Yeom off his line quickly to narrow the angle, the midfielder could only shoot straight at the keeper.
 
It was almost 2-0 after 70 minutes as Sandro Hiroshi’s close-range header hit the ground and bounced over.
 
Chunnam sealed the win with eight minutes remaining when second half-substitute Leandro found Brazilian compatriot Sandro Cardoso on the right side of the box and the striker held off the challenge of a defender to fire home from 10 yards.