Goal joy turns to woe as Wanderers trio suspended

SYDNEY, Aug 29 (AFP): Tomi Juric's caution for a cheeky goal celebration has made him one of three Western Sydney Wanderers players suspended for the AFC Champions League semi-finals' first leg, the club said Friday.

The star striker was carded for putting a finger to his lips to silence the Chinese crowd after scoring a vital second-half penalty against last year's winners, Guangzhou Evergrande.

In further blows to the Wanderers, Shannon Cole and Brendan Santalab are also suspended for accumulated yellow cards and will miss the away leg against FC Seoul on September 17.

But the three players will be available for the return game on October 1 as the Wanderers, on their debut in the competition, try to become only the second Australian team to reach the final.

The Wanderers reached the semi-finals of the Asian football showpiece on away goals following Juric's penalty in Wednesday's 2-1 quarter-final, second leg loss in Guangzhou.

Wanderers players said they were subjected to a litany of incidents by local fans including late-night phone calls and knocking on their hotel room doors.