Freak goal gives Reds edge over Seoul in AFC Champions League tie

Ugajin was alone on the edge of the box when he received Ryota Moriwaki's raking cross, and he looked as surprised as anyone when his hopeful volley looped unstoppably into the far corner.

It was an unexpected but welcome dose of good fortune for the 2007 champions from Japan, who will hope it is a good omen for next week's return leg in the South Korean capital.

Ugajin's cross-cum-shot carried shades of Dutch legend Marco van Basten's stunner in the Euro 1988 final -- apart from the huge dose of luck that put it into the net.

FC Seoul created plenty in reply but Brazilian striker Adriano, after scoring 10 in the group stage, was out of sorts and ballooned a golden chance over the goal late in the first half.

Seoul 'keeper Yu Sang-Hun saved sharply at the feet of Yosuke Kashiwagi early in the second half, before Osmar Barba blazed over at the other end on 67 minutes.

With two minutes left, Adriano had another chance to level the scores. But his shot was smothered and a pulsating game finished 1-0, to the delight of the vocal Saitama crowd.

FC Seoul reached the Asian final in 2013 and after their free-scoring romp through the group phase, they will be confident of making amends on home soil next week.