Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: A look ahead to Wednesday's AFC Champions League Round of 16 matches.
Former finalists FC Seoul of Korea Republic and 2007 winners Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan are set to face off in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday with both sides looking to lay a foundation for another tilt at the continental title.
Group F winners FC Seoul have been among the stand-out teams in the East, with Brazilian striker Adriano stealing headlines with his extraordinary record of 10 goals in six group stage games, as Choi Yong-soo’s side secured a return to the knockout stage for a fourth consecutive year.
And FC Seoul will be entertained by Urawa at Saitama Stadium 2002 after the J.League side finished second in Group H behind Australia’s Sydney FC.
“Since Urawa is a strong side, I have to make tactical preparation to play 180 minutes against them. Those who advance to the knockout stage are all close to each other, so that small details can separate winners and losers there,” said FC Seoul coach Choi.
“I respect Urawa, too. I want to make a good preparation to play them.”
Urawa are appearing in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for a third time after losing at the semi-final stage in 2008 to eventual winners and compatriots Gamba Osaka.
“Seoul is a high quality team and plays attacking football. It is a fun for us to play such an opponent. It will be a spectacular game and an interesting game for us Reds as well as Japanese football,” said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic, who will be without defender Daisuke Nasu due to suspension.
“I take this outcome positively as we will have a shorter travel than going to Shandong and our supporters can feel easier to travel to Seoul, which is closer than Shandong.”
Shandong will also be in action on Wednesday with the two-time quarter-finalists returning to the knockout stage for the first time since 2005 after six consecutive group stage eliminations.
The Group F runners-up will host Round of 16 debutants Sydney who secured their place in the knockout stages as Group H winners despite their 1-0 defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande after Urawa failed to beat Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers following a 1-1 draw in Saitama.
Shandong midfielder Jin Jingdao will, however, miss out the first leg in Jinan through suspension.
The final fixture in the first round of knockout ties sees inaugural champions Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates entertain 2010 finalists Zobahan after the Iranian club continued their impressive return to the competition after a five year absence with qualification for the last 16 as unbeaten Group B runners-up.
“I want to congratulate the players for this victory and for qualifying to the next round,” said Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic, after his side clinched their last 16 place with a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan’s Nasaf a fortnight ago.
“The players showed great determination to get the three points and they followed the plan we put in place before the match.”
Dalic’s side edged out Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli to take second place in Group D behind Qatar’s El Jaish to secure a sixth appearance in the knockout stage.
WEDNESDAY MAY 18 FIXTURES
Urawa Red Diamonds v FC Seoul
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama
Shandong Luneng FC v Sydney FC
Kick-off: 1930hrs
Venue: Jinan Olympic Sports Centre, Jinan
Al Ain v Zobahan
Kick-off: 1940hrs
Venue: Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
*All times are local
Photo: Lagardère Sports