Former continental champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings of Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates are amongst the sides looking to qualify for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League in Tuesday’s final round of group stage fixtures.
After beating Gamba Osaka in Japan a fortnight ago, two-time Asian Club Championship winners Suwon head into their meeting with Group G winners Shanghai SIPG from China level on points with second placed Melbourne Victory from Australia knowing that they must better the their result against the already eliminated J.League side.
TUESDAY 3 May fixtures
Group C
Pakhtakor v Al Jazira
Tractorsazi Tabriz v Al Hilal
Group D
Al Ain v Nasaf
Al Ahli v El Jaish
Group G
Melbourne Victory v Gamba Osaka
Suwon Samsung Bluewings FC v Shanghai SIPG
Group H
Guangzhou Evergrande v Sydney FC
Urawa Red Diamonds v Pohang Steelers
Having drawn both games with Melbourne, the goal scored by Kosta Barbarouses in the 1-1 draw in Suwon means the Australians would edge the K-League Classic side on head-to-head record due to the away goal.
“With the result today, we have kept alive the possibility of advancing to the Round of 16. I am thankful to our players," said Suwon coach Seo Jung-won after seeing a Santos brace secure a 2-1 win in Osaka.
“We still have one game to play and still have to wait to see the results of the Melbourne’s game. I am feeling happy about winning away from home, but we are still not yet out of the group stage.”
Visitors Shanghai will be without suspended Korean defender Kim Ju-young as the Chinese Super League side seek a fifth consecutive victory after losing to Melbourne at the start of the campaign.
Elsewhere, with Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz having already qualified for the Round of 16, both two-time Asian Club Championship winners Al Hilal or Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor are seeking qualification from Group C.
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Giorgis Donis’ Al Hilal, who currently lie in second, will advance if they can secure victory from their return meeting with Tractorsazi, or if Pakhtakor fail to beat already-eliminated Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates.
Pakhtakor will be without suspended duo Azimjon Akhmedov and Javokhir Sokhibov, while the suspension of 2015 AFC Asian Cup top scorer Ali Mabkhout will hamper Al Jazira.
Meanwhile, three sides are in contention to join Qatar’s El Jaish in the Round of 16 from Group D.
Former champions Al Ain will advance if they defeat Uzbekistan’s Nasaf, while a draw would also be enough if newly crowned Saudi Arabian champions Al Ahli are unable to overcome group winners El Jaish.
And an away win for Nasaf could also be enough to leapfrog into second place if Al Ahli cannot take three points in Jeddah.
The Saudi side, though, will in turn take second ahead of Nasaf and Al Ain should they claim victory over El Jaish and Al Ain fail to beat Nasaf.
“The big win is very important for us at such a stage in the competition,” said Al Ahli coach Christian Gross with the 2012 finalists seeking their fifth appearance in the Round of 16 having beaten El Jaish 4-1 last month.
“We played with a lot of concentration in the first half as we knew that it is our last chance to remain in contention in the competition.”
El Jaish will be without suspended pair Khaled Al Zrigi and Yasir Isa for the trip to Saudi Arabia, having booked their place in the last 16 on Matchday Four.
Finally, Australia’s Sydney FC and 2007 winners Urawa Red Diamonds face a race for top spot in Group H with both sides having already qualified for the last 16 a fortnight ago.
Sydney travel to China to face already eliminated defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande knowing if they match or better Urawa’s result at home to Pohang Steelers then the A-League side will advance as group winners for their maiden appearance in the last 16.
Brazil midfielder Paulinho is suspended for Guangzhou at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium, while striker Matt Simon is ruled out for Sydney.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com