Final four places up for grabs
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 22, 2014
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Naoki Ishihara (left) was on target last week as J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima shared a 2-2 draw with China's Beijing Guoan to remain in contention for a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League. |
Japanese duo Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Cerezo Osaka, Chinese pair Shandong Luneng and Beijing Guoan, former finalists FC Seoul, Thailand's Buriram United, Australia's Central Coast Mariners, Qatar's El Jaish and Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor are all in contention for a place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, but only four of the nine will advance to the last 16.
Hiroshima are currently at the foot of the Group F table, but with the J.League champions just two points behind table-topping FC Seoul alongside both Central Coast and Beijing, all is still to play for on Matchday Six.
And Hiroshima will look to make full use of home advantage against Central Coast, while FC Seoul entertain Beijing with the 2013 finalists knowing a point will be enough to secure qualification following last week's last-gasp 1-0 win in Australia.
"My players showed a great fighting spirit and fought all the way to the end and did not give up," said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo after seeing Central Coast captain John Hutchinson net a 92nd minute own goal in Australia last week.
"We will do the same next week, fight to the end, and not give up."
Shandong, Cerezo and 2013 quarter-finalists Buriram, meanwhile, are out to progress from Group E alongside Korean champions Pohang Steelers with all three sides currently level on points.
Unbeaten three-time Asian champions Pohang are already assured of a place in the last 16 as group winners, although the 2009 AFC Champions League winners will still have a part to play in deciding the runner-up as Buriram travel to The Steelyard.
Thai treble winners Buriram kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Shandong last week to claim potential head-to-head advantage over the Chinese side.
Buriram, though, must better the result Cerezo achieve in China against Shandong, who themselves need to better Buriram's result against Pohang.
"We had many chances to score but it was not our day and we also had one of our key players, Vagner Love suspended," said Shandong coach Cuca after seeing Kai Hirano's first half header hand Buriram a first win of the campaign.
"However, there is still a chance to qualify as we still have one more match to play against Cerezo Osaka and Buriram United have to play against Pohang Steelers in Korea which will be a very tough game for them."
Elsewhere, El Jaish and two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor will meet in Qatar to decide who advances from Group B alongside Iran champions Foolad Khouzestan.
El Jaish are in the driving seat with a three point cushion after winning 2-1 in Tashkent earlier in the campaign, meaning Bunyodkor must win by at least two clear goals to avoid a first-ever group stage exit in the AFC Champions League.
"We didn`t tell the result of the Foolad and El Jaish match to the players, but they knew that Foolad were leading in the break," said Bunyodkor caretaker coach Aleksandr Volkov after seeing Vokhid Shodiev and Alibobo Rakhmatullaev score in the last 10 minutes at Pakhtakor Stadium.
"And I think it helped them find some additional energy in the last minutes of the second half."
Having seen their campaign ended following last week's 3-2 defeat by Bunyodkor, Saudi Arabia's Al Fateh only have pride to play for at home to group winners Khouzestan.
Finally, Al Jazira entertain fellow qualifiers Al Shabab in Abu Dhabi needing to win to claim top spot in Group A.
Al Jazira beat Qatar's Al Rayyan 3-2 last week to ensure a return to the last 16, although Al Shabab's 2-1 win at home to Iran's Esteghlal means the Emirati side must claim all three points at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium to earn home advantage in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie next month.
With their hopes of progress ended following last week's defeats, Esteghlal entertain Al Rayyan in Tehran with both sides seeking just their second wins of the campaign.
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