Kashima: Japan's Kashima Antlers could secure their place in the 2019 AFC Champions League knockout rounds if they defeat Korea Republic’s Gyeongnam FC at the Kashima Soccer Stadium on Wednesday.
Stoppage-time goals from Takeshi Kanamori and Serginho saw the defending champions claim a 3-2 victory over Gyeongnam two weeks ago – having initially been 2-0 down – to remain two points clear at the top of the Group E standings.
Five points ahead of Wednesday’s opponents, Kashima would advance to the next phase if they win and Johor Darul Ta’zim fail to defeat Shandong Luneng in the day’s other Group E fixture.
Kashima, who will be without the suspended Tomoya Inukai and Koki Machida, warmed up for the game with a 1-0 victory over Vegalta Sendai in the J.League on Saturday.
After drawing their opening two games on the Continent, Gyeongnam’s home loss to Kashima dealt a major blow to their qualification hopes and they will need a positive response in Japan.
It was they who scored late in K League 1 on Saturday to claim a 3-3 draw against Suwon Samsung Bluewings and remain just below mid-table.
Source: the-afc.com