AFC Champions League preview

AFC Champions League preview
(FIFA.com) Monday 22 March 2010
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The 2010 AFC Champions League reaches its midway point this week, with the sides pitted against each other on Matchday 3 set for the first of two back-to-back meetings.

There are three top-of-the-table contests in Groups A, B and E, while pace-setters in the other five groups face up to their sections’ bottom sides.

Adding extra spice to the Matchday 3 are ten ‘derbies’ between near neighbours. In West Asia, four Saudi representatives square off with opponents from United Arab Emirates, while Uzbeks Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor do battle with Zob Ahan and Sepahan of Iran. In the continent’s east, meanwhile, four Chinese sides compete against rivals from Korea Republic.

The match
Pohang Steelers (KOR)-Shandong Luneng (CHN)

Despite losing their Group A opener to Adelaide United, defending champions Pohang bounced back with a 2-1 win over Hiroshima a fortnight ago to put their campaign back on track. They also welcome Shandong on the back of a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Gangwan FC 4-0 on Saturday in which new Brazilian import Mota grabbed a hat-trick. The South Koreans may, however, have to make do without suspended defender Hwang Jae-Won, although the return of former Fullham striker Seol Ki-Hyun provides coach Waldemar Lemos with an additional attacking option.

For their part, Shandong travel to Pohang aiming to atone for a 2-0 home defeat to high-flying Adelaide. Although Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic has shown unwavering confidence in his 4-3-1-2 formation, he may be forced to modify his tactical approach due to the loss of defender Jiao Zhe, who recently injured his heel in training.

The other headliners
Two of the seven teams still preserving a perfect record, Group E joint-leaders Seongnam Ilhwa and Beijing Guoan, face off in Korea Republic. The hosts had looked unstoppable both domestically and on the continental front but their length winning streak was brought to end this weekend in a draw with Jeonbuk Motors. Beijing, meanwhile, will be hoping for better luck against South Korean opposition this time, having lost twice lost to Ulsan Hyundai last season. In the section’s other match, pointless Kawasaki Frontale and Melbourne Victory know that victory is all but essential if they are to preserve any hopes of qualifying.

Group F sees 2006 champions Jeonbuk Motors travel to Changchun Yatai. The South Koreans will start as strong favourites, but it is the Chinese who raised quite a few eyebrows by trouncing Persipura Jayapura 9-0 in their last fixture. Changchun have also been boosted by the return of playmaker Du Zhenyu, while Jeonbuk are without the services of the suspended Jung Hong. Elsewhere, runaway leaders Kashima Antlers are expected to make light work of Persipura despite the loss of Koji Nakata.

Another Chinese-Korean affairs is served up in Group G, where leaders Suwon Bluewings travel to face Henan Jianye. Suwon’s Brazilian striker Juninho is in prolific form after scoring twice to firing his side to a 2-1 win against Incheon on Saturday but the visitors will be wary of these resilient Chinese debutants, who held Gamba Osaka to a surprise 1-1 draw in their last outing. Gamba themselves, champions in 2008, face a desperate search for their first win against Singapore Armed Forces.

High-flying Al Hilal lead the Saudi charge against UAE with a home match against pointless Al Ahli in Group D. While Al Hilal are hotly-tipped favourites with captain Yasser Al Qahtani back to his best form, it is the section’s other game that looks more evenly-matched, with Al Sadd and Mes Kerman competing for the second place.

Another Saudi outfit, Al Ittihad, face a must-win against Al Wadha in Group B after picking up just a solitary point from their first two games. In the section’s other match, front-runners Bunyodkor will again look to their Brazilian duo of Rivaldo and Denilson for inspiration against Iranian hosts Zob Ahan.

After winning their third Qatari league title following a 4-1 defeat of Al Sadd this weekend, Group A leaders Al Gharafa will be confident of continuing their perfect run against Iran’s Esteghlal. Group C looks to be the most open, meanwhile, with only three points separating leaders Al Shabab and bottom side Al Ain ahead of these sides doing battle

Player to watch
Back from a length injury-enforced absence, Younes Mahmoud has not taken long to rediscover his goalscoring form with Al Gharafa. After opening the scoring in his side’s opening win against Al Jazira, the Iraqi hitman was twice on target in their 4-1 victory over Al Sadd. Can he continue this fine run?

What they said
"We know what our Korean opponents are and we are also clear about what we are capable of. Regardless of our rivals and the gameplan we employ, our goal remains the same: to gain maximum points." Beijing Guoan head coach Hong Yuanshuo

Champs Pohang stumble in Adelaide

Champs Pohang stumble in Adelaide
(AFP) Wednesday 24 February 2010
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Defending champions Pohang Steelers stumbled to an opening 1-0 defeat in defence of their AFC Champions League title on Wednesday on a disappointing night for teams from Korea Republic.

The Steelers went down to Adelaide United in Australia after exciting youngster Matthew Leckie scored an individual goal in first-half injury time. Leckie ran from deep inside his own half and held off four defenders in a mazy run before scoring with help from defender Park Hee-Chul for the eventual winner.

Adelaide, who lost to Japan's Gamba Osaka in the 2008 final, finished at the bottom of this season's A-League but they showed plenty of spirit against Pohang in a niggly Group H match of 38 fouls.

Asia's top club competition got underway with eight games on Tuesday, a night that saw former Pohang striker Denilson among the goals for Uzbek giants Bunyodkor in their 3-0 demolition of Saudi powerhouse Al Ittihad. Their target is the final in November, with the winner assured of a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.

In other matches on Wednesday, Japan's Gamba Osaka ground out a well-deserved 0-0 draw in Korea against Suwon Bluewings in their opening Group G match. Despite holding the K-League side on their own ground, Gamba will feel that they did enough to take all three points as it was the Japanese team who created the better openings.

In Hiroshima, Sanfrecce's AFC Champions League debut ended in disappointment with a second-half strike by Han Peng enough for China's Shandong Luneng to seal a 1-0 victory. The Chinese international headed home a corner 13 minutes from time to help new boss Branko Ivankovic's side get off to a winning start.

Chinese Super League underdogs Henan Jianye, meanwhile, drew 0-0 at home against Singapore Armed Forces on their competition debut in a tough group that will also see them face Suwon and Gamba. In the other matches being played on Wednesday, Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor secured a 1-0 away victory over United Arab Emirates side Al Ain. The Uzbek side opened their Group C account with three points thanks to a 59-minute strike from Artur Gevorkyan.

Meanwhile, Iranian powerhouse Sepahan drew 1-1 with Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia. Midfielder Hosseini Seyed Jalal opened the scoring for the visitors in the 14th minute but Fisal Bin Sultan denied them victory with an equaliser 20 minutes from the end.

In Group D, Saudi side Al Hilal, coached by former Marseille manager and Belgian footballing great Eric Gerets, thumped Qatar's Al Sadd 3-0 in Doha with striker Yasser Al-Qahtani grabbing the first two goals. Brazilian Thiago Neves then completed the rout in the final minute when he finished from close range past goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.

In the group's other game on Wednesday, Iran's Champions League newcomers Mes Kerman - who are battling against relegation domestically - convincingly beat Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates 4-2 with the Iranian side's midfielder Mahdi Rajabzadeh scoring two.