Syrian league and cup winners Al Karama are up for another AFC Champions League campaign after surprising everyone with their unlikely march to the 2006 final and the quarterfinals in 2007, which included a series of memorable wins.

Almost invincible in their citadel of Homs, Al Karama served notice in 2006 by knocking out redoubtable Asian giants like Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia (quarter-finals) and Kuwait’s Al Qadsiya (semi-finals) before their golden run was ended by Korean side Jeonbuk Motors in the final (aggregate 3-2).

To prove that their success was no flash in the pan, Mohamed Kwid’s men repeated a similar performance in 2007 to book their berth in the quarter-finals where they lost to Korean champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.