Crunch time for former ACL champions
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 23, 2013
Former AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Urawa Reds entertain Group F rivals Muangthong Untied and Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday with all four teams in the hunt for a place in the last 16 heading into the penultimate round of fixtures.
Jeonbuk, who claimed the title in 2006 before also reaching the final in two years ago, extended their unbeaten record after coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Urawa at home earlier this month to remain in second place behind table-topping Guangzhou.
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Japan's Urawa Reds currently sit in third place in Group F ahead of Wednesday's meeting with Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande after sharing a 2-2 draw with fellow former AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors earlier this month. |
Fabio Lefundes' side currently hold a two-point advantage over Urawa having beaten the 2007 champions in Japan 3-1 at the start of April meaning a draw with winless Muangthong, who must win to keep their maiden campaign alive, could be enough to qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare should the Reds lose to Guangzhou.
Jung Hyuk and Lim You-hwan will miss the tie for Jeonbuk due to suspension, while Thai champions Muangthong will be without Serbian striker Mario Djurovski, although Teerasil Dangda is eligible to return as Slavisa Jokanovic's side seek to add to their solitary point.
Urawa, meanwhile, face Group F leaders Guangzhou with the Chinese champions only needing a point from their trip to Saitama Stadium to secure qualification for the knockout stage for a second consecutive season.
Marcello Lippi's unbeaten side, though, will be eyeing a fourth win of the campaign to also seal top spot and home advantage in the second leg of their last 16 tie having beaten Muangthong 4-1 in Thailand earlier this month thanks to two goals from the tournament's leading scorer, Muriqui.
"It is regrettable that we conceded a second goal in added time, but during the game I was satisfied with the players," said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic, who will be without Tsukasa Umesaki due to suspension against Guangzhou, following the draw with Jeonbuk.
"We should have easily got three points from this game but we have just one.
"We are not disappointed as we are still in contention in the group stage and if we play well in the remaining matches and I am sure that we can advance to the knockout stage."
Elsewhere, FC Seoul travel to China to face Jiangsu Sainty with the K-League champions looking to consolidate their position at the top of Group E, while Thailand's Buriram United entertain Vegalta Sendai with all four teams also still in the hunt for a place in the last 16.
FC Seoul currently hold a two point lead over both Vegalta and Buriram after losing their unbeaten record in Japan earlier this month and can advance with a third win of the campaign, with Jiangsu just a point further off the pace following their defeat in Thailand last time out.
Should FC Seoul beat Jiangsu, a victory for either Buriram or Sendai in Thailand would secure qualification after the pair shared a 1-1 draw on Matchday One in Japan.
In the West, despite having already secured a place in the knockout stage, Saudi champions Al Shabab travel to Qatar to face El Jaish looking to seal top spot in Group A, while Al Jazira will look to keep their campaign alive at home to Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz.
Al Shabab edged out Tractorsazi 1-0 in Iran earlier this month to join fellow Saudi side Al Ahli in becoming the first sides to advance from the group stage, while their third win of the campaign also established a five point lead at the top of the table.
Second-place El Jaish hold a slender one point advantage over Tractorsazi, with Al Jazira in desperate need of a first win of the campaign as the UAE Pro League side seek to follow up last year's maiden appearance in the last 16.
AFC Champions League debutants El Jaish, though, could seal their place in the knockout stage with victory over Al Shabab if Al Jazira beat Tractorsazi.
Finally, Qatar champions Lekhwiya and Uzbekistan counterparts Pakhtakor can seal their places in the last 16 with away draws against Al Shabab Al Arabi and Al Ettifaq.
Lekhwiya currently hold a one point lead over Pakhtakor at the top of Group B after the pair shared a 2-2 draw in Tashkent earlier this month.
Al Ettifaq beat Al Shabab Al Arabi 4-1 last time out to sit just three points behind Pakhtakor, although having lost 1-0 in Tashkent on Matchday One, the Saudi side must win to at least level the head-to-head record between the pair.
Al Shabab Al Arabi are just a point further adrift after edging out Al Ettifaq 1-0 in Dubai earlier this month, although the UAE Pro League side must beat Lekhwiya to guarantee they remain in the hunt heading into next week's final round of fixtures.
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