PLAY-OFFS ROUND ONE Al Suwaiq (OMA) v Al Qadisiya (KUW) [A] Al Ordun (JOR) v Al Hidd (BHR) [B ] Al Kuwait (KUW) v Al Shorta Baghdad (IRQ) [C] Tampines Rovers (SIN) v South China (HKG) [D] Pune FC (IND) v Hanoi T&T (VIE) [E] ROUND TWO Bani Yas (UAE) v Winner A (OMA/KUW) [F] El Jaish SC (QAT) v Nasaf Qarshi (UZB) [G] Lekhwiya SC (QAT) v Winner B (JOR/BHR) [H] Lokomotiv Tashkent (UZB) v Winner C (KUW/IRQ) [I ] Chonburi FC (THA) v Winner D (SIN/HKG) [J] Muang Thong United (THA) v Winner E (IND/VIE) [K] ROUND THREE Winner F (UAE/OMA/KUW) v Winner G (QAT/UZB) [POW1] Winner H (QAT/JOR/BHR) v Winner I (UZB/KUW/IRQ) [POW2] Beijing Guoan (CHN) v Winner J (THA/SIN/HKG) [POE1] Melbourne Victory (AUS) v Winner K (THA/IND/VIE) [POE2] GROUP A Esteghlal (IRN) Al Rayyan (QAT) Al Jazira (UAE) Al Shabab Riyadh (KSA) GROUP B Al Fateh (KSA) Foolad (IRN) POW1 (UAE/OMA/KUW/QAT/UZB)* FC Bunyodkor (UZB) GROUP C Al Ain (UAE) Al Ittihad Jeddah (KSA) Tractor Sazi (IRN) POW2 (QAT/JOR/BHR/UZB/KUW/IRQ) GROUP D Al Sadd (QAT) Al Ahli Dubai (UAE) Al Hilal Riyadh (KSA) Sepahan (IRN) GROUP E Pohang Steelers (KOR) Buriram United (THA) Shandong Luneng (CHN) JAPAN 3rd/4th (JPN) GROUP F Sanfreece Hiroshima (JPN) Central Coast Mariners (AUS) FC Seoul (KOR) POE1 (CHN/THA/SIN/HKG) GROUP G Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) JAPAN CW/2nd (JPN) Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) POE2 (AUS/THA/IND/VIE) GROUP H Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) Guizhou Renhe (CHN) JAPAN 2nd/3rd (JPN) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) * If UZB teams qualifies from B3 and C4, B3 (POW1) will switch with A2 (Al Rayyan). If Lokomotiv Tashkent does not qualify from POW2 (C4), but Nasaf does qualify from POW1 (B3), B3 and C4 will switch. This is to ensure 2 UZB will not be in the same group. Not really a draw to be honest... only 4 balls were drawn!!!!!
Chonburi FC (THA) v Winner D (SIN/HKG) [J] Muang Thong United (THA) v Winner E (IND/VIE) [K] Now that Thailand is in a state of emergency, will these matches be moved to a neutral territory?
South China Morning Post South China out to prove critics wrong in Asian Champions League Team boss says the Caroliners will do HK proud despite negative sentiments about game here Chan Kin-wa When South China leave for their maiden Asian Champions League qualifiers on Tuesday, they have more than just a tournament at stake - saving the pride of Hong Kong soccer. The Caroliners will take on Tampines Rovers of Singapore in the opening round on Sunday, with Chonburi of Thailand and China Super League side Beijing Guoan their next two hurdles before reaching the main draw of Asia's top-tier club competition. "I feel very disappointed reading recent reports about Project Phoenix, saying it should not be continued because Hong Kong soccer is useless," said team convenor Steven Lo Kit-sing. "I want to prove these people are wrong through our results in this tournament. This is the first time a team from Hong Kong will appear in the ACL and we are shouldering a big responsibility." Introduced in 2011 with an annual budget of HK$20 million given to the Hong Kong Football Association, the project's first three-year period ends in October when the government decides whether it will continue. "A project of this kind is always a long-term development and no one can expect overnight success," said Lo, who is also vice-chairman of the association. "Take the J-League in Japan or the Stars League in Qatar. They all took time to build up their success. Hong Kong soccer is making gradual progress under the project and that's why we have South China in the ACL. "But many people have used some extreme examples to attack our sport and this is discouraging." To foster their ACL hopes, South China have recruited two towering strikers, Andrew Barisic and Sasa Kajkut to strengthen their fire power. Australian Barisic, who scored two goals against Tampines in the AFC Cup group match last year, is upbeat. "The confidence is there when you have beaten the team before and that's what I have to bring into the game," said the striker. "They are slow to come back to defend and our transition from defence to attack must be quick, and that's the way we can open them up and score goals."
PLAY-OFFS ROUND ONE (predictions) Al Suwaiq (OMA) v Al Qadisiya (KUW) [A] Al Ordun (JOR) v Al Hidd (BHR) [B ] Al Kuwait (KUW) v Al Shorta Baghdad (IRQ) [C] Tampines Rovers (SIN) v South China (HKG) [D] Pune FC (IND) v Hanoi T&T (VIE) [E]
Al Zawra used to compete on continental lvl back in day, now its mostly Arbeel, nice to see Al Shorta back though I predict Al Kuwait to win this cuz most I think most Iraqi national dont play localy & cuz of the addition of Nekounam in Kuwait SC
It will be tough for all away teams. Ridiculous rules and ridiculous draw, especially for later rounds - stronger teams from stronger leagues play at home against minnows - should have been with all eight teams start in same round. BTW, this Kajkut guy is great attacker, I know him from Bosnian league, great addition for South China - team I'd love to see in ACL group stages.
Bangkok is in a state of emergency, not Thailand. Chonburi's match will certainly go forward as planned. Muangthong does not play in Bangkok, but plays near enough to it that they might consider moving the match to another venue. Still, I doubt it will change. They moved the Kor Royal Cup match to Suphanburi Province, but that was obviously necessary, since there are mass protests going on right outside the gates of Supachalasai Stadium in central Bangkok.
I think HK government has been here before with Thailand. Although it's only Bangkok in a state of emergency, the government will not allow their people to travel to Thailand at all on insurance reasons. To get to anywhere in Thailand, they will have to go through Bangkok - this is the problem, not a problem playing outside of Bangkok but the actual transit of Bangkok. The problem with these playoffs is that they are only one legged. If I was the away team, i'd be calling for it to be reversed to gain the advantage. Any team would be right in saying it's not safe, who wants to potentially get stuck in another country? It's very unlikely, but violence flares up, airports have been closed. There is a history but I guess whichever teams qualify for these matches are the teams that need to decide what they do. AFC won't move until someone brings it too their attention.
You're right! Chonburi FC is now reporting that South China has petitioned the match to be moved from Thailand if they pass to the second round. I think it's a bit ridiculous, because I can't imagine it would be too much trouble to fly into a different airport other than one in Bangkok and bus to Chonburi from there, but I can't help but hope this pans out. I'm in Hong Kong over the Spring Festival and if the game is moved, I might be able to attend!
I doubt Chonburi would be willing to go to HK, if anything, I think the AFC will move it to neutral soil, Malaysia or possibly Singapore, where South China would already be, assuming they get past Tampines Rovers. No word from Vietnam though at this moment. Would be odd if Chonburi match was moved but MTU match stayed where it is.