It looks like there will be two Hong Kong clubs, two Kuwaiti clubs and two Malaysian clubs in the quarter final stage. The regulations do not mention any country protection. So could we see South China vs Kitchee, Pahang vs Johor DT and Al Qadsia vs Al Kuwait? I think nobody will disagree if they apply country protection here.
Personally I think using country protection is a tad unnecessary for the quarter finals. Round of 16 is alright though.
I believe that's what the Malaysians were pushing for.....I've seen some quotes somewhere with them stating the regulations.....it's only fair. It's harsh on Perispura but then they and all the clubs in Indonesia need to push to sort out the administrators of their nation. I have seen AFC over the years ignore their own rules, so I wouldn't be surprised if this game is kicked off with only days notice.....Pahang shouldn't be made to travel again though....not even to neutral soil. Disappointing how AFC haven't said much, they must have got final reports from clubs and officials by now?
When the brackets an open draw, i'm always disappointed when clubs from the same region play each other, never mind same nation! I'd be in favour of country protection in these circumstance but I doubt AFC will change the rules (this edition) which would be a pity for the East nations as I feel they need more games against West Asian opposition more than the other way round. If a Kitchee went out to a South China and same for the Malaysian sides, then we wouldn't really know what their Asian level is at which doesn't help a team like Kitchee prepare for AFC Champions League the next year.
I think if you ask the clubs themselves, they will be happy with country protection because they want to and expect to play unfamiliar opponents in an international competition. I hope all the eight clubs come together and ask for it. Of course, if they don't do country protection, AFC can pair the 3 same country clubs in the quarter-finals and more or less guarantee that they will not have a same country final.
Indonesia have been suspended. That should mean Pahang through to the next round. http://www.eurosport.com/football/i...or-government-meddling_sto4759838/story.shtml
http://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong...-hong-kongs-chances-having-team-afc-cup-final South China Morning Post New ruling boosts Hong Kong's chances of having a team in AFC Cup final East will meet West in regional cup climax, but Kitchee and South China could be in line to face off UPDATED : Friday, 05 June, 2015, 9:40pm Chan Kin-wa Kitchee and South China could be in line to clash on the way to the AFC Cup final when the draw is made in Malaysia later this month. Photo: Felix Wong A new draw format in the AFC Cup quarter-finals has boosted hopes of either South China or Kitchee becoming the first Hong Kong team to reach the regional competition final. For the first time, there are two teams from Hong Kong in the last eight stage, and when the draw is made in Kuala Lumpur on June 18, they will only meet East Asian sides, until one of the four has reached the final. The format is the same for the four other quarter-finalists from the west, guaranteeing a final showdown between East and West. Previously, teams in the quarter-finals would draw against each other and an East Asian team have not reached the final since the tournament’s inception in 2004. Middle East nations have dominated and the only time they did not lift the trophy was in 2011 when FC Nasaf of Uzbekistan defeated Al Kuwait 2-1 in the final. Nasaf are also the only non-Middle Eastern team to have reached the final. “This is good news to East Asia clubs because it has been very difficult to beat Middle East teams and reach the final,” said Kitchee director of football Chu Chi-kwong, whose side lost to Erbil of Iraq in the semi-final last year. “We can also save a lot on travelling time and that’s important when the domestic season begins as we will have to play on home and international fronts.” Apart from South China and Kitchee, the two other East Asia quarter-finalists are also from the same country – Johor Darul Ta’zim and Pahang, both of Malaysia. The four clubs are no strangers as Pahang met South China in the group stage this year, but ended up with losses both at home and away. Kitchee had a balanced record against Johor, beating the Malaysians 2-0 at home, but losing the away tie by the same margin. Chu hoped they could avoid meeting Johor as the big spenders have quality overseas players and the atmosphere at Johor’s home ground is intimidating. “Pahang and South China make little difference, but we have a psychological edge over South China because we achieved a very good record against them this season,” he said. Several Kitchee players are out of contract this month and Hong Kong internationals Xu Deshuai and Tsang Chi-hau look set to join Eastern, along with full back Tsang Kam-to.
So it will be East meets West in the final? That means Hong Kong's Kitchee and South China will meet Malaysia's Johor DT and Pahang in the East. Since they already played each other in the group stage, I guess the quarter finals match up will be: Kitchee vs Pahang South China vs Johor DT That means a meeting of old friends. Johor DT coach left South China only in May, while defender Zesh Rehman joined Pahang from Kitchee in Autumn 2013.
He did say this arrangement is happening to the AFC Cup "for the first time", so it is rather clear he is not confusing AFC Cup with ACL. There is a strong reason for the AFC to do this to pacify the East Asian clubs. Because West Asian clubs have dominated this competition and therefore the prize money. East Asian clubs are clearly unhappy as even the finalist can receive US$250,000, which is a fortune to most of them. Of course they want a slice of that.
For the first time, there are two teams from Hong Kong in the last eight stage. That is what he said. Not the first time the AFC will use the East/West format. It's similar to what happened in the ACL, just because one region can't make a final, doesn't mean that it's a correct call to make for myself....It is clear that West are streets ahead of East at this level, giving an East side passage to the final isn't the correct call. If this route is taken, then AFC might aswell just run two ACL competitions, for East and West, make more groups per division then have a super cup at the end when East meets West and do away with the AFC Cup altogether
Then maybe AFC needs to look at the formats of ACL and AFC Cup. I am pretty sure if a nationally lowered ranked Japanese club (5th or 6th in the J League) is given an entry into the AFC Cup, they would win it. UEFA have no trouble with Spanish sides Barcelona winning the Champions League and Sevilla winning the Europa League. So why is AFC worried?
Finally, a decision. AFC followed their rule book and Perispura have forfeited the match. http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/persipura-jayapura-forfeit-afc-cup-match-v-pahang-fa
http://www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2015/stage-set-for-afc-cup-quarter-finals-draw There will be no seeding or country protection, therefore, an open draw will be implemented. The draw is at 3pm (China, HK, Singapore, Malaysia time) today.
Quarter final draw: QF1 Qadsia (Kuwait) vs Al Jaish (Syria) QF2 Johor DT (Malaysia) vs South China (Hong Kong) QF3 Kuwait SC (Kuwait) vs Kitchee (Hong Kong) QF4 FC Istiklol (Tajikistan) vs Pahang FA (Malaysia) SF1: QF1 winner vs QF2 winner SF2: QF3 winner vs QF4 winner SF2 winner will host final match. They did rather well to put clubs from the same countries apart, despite no country protection. So Johor DT coach Mario Gomez will meet his former employers just less than 4 months after leaving them.
So, the reporter was wrong then!! It's good to see that at least the AFC stick to their own rules and regulations.
South China Morning Post South China coach Casemiro Mior to face his predecessor in AFC Cup quarter-final Caroliners coach must face Mario Gomez after the Hong Kong giants are drawn against Malaysia's Johor in last eight of regional competition Nazvi Careem in Kuala Lumpur South China coach Casemiro Mior is expecting to play mind games with his predecessor Mario Gomez when the Caroliners face Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup in August. Brazilian Mior replaced Gomez as South China coach less than two months ago when the Argentine left Hong Kong to take the helm at the ambitious southern Malaysian club. Hong Kong champions Kitchee, meanwhile, were given an even harder assignment at yesterday's draw in Kuala Lumpur. They were pitted against Kuwait SC, the three-time winners who beat South China in the 2009 AFC Cup semi-finals. Said Mior: "Gomez will know our team very well because he was the coach of South China quite recently. He will know what to do against our players. Therefore it will be tough for us. "But at the same time, our players will be familiar with his style. We will try to predict each other's tactics. "We will have to focus and show respect to the Malaysian team. They are strong and have very good players and we will need to prepare well, but we believe we can reach the next stage." Mior returned to South China for his third stint as coach last month. He first coached the team from 1998 to 2003 before heading home to Brazil. He was lured back in 2006 and went on to win the league, Senior Shield and FA Cup in 2007. He then joined Eastern for one season before returning to Brazil. Gomez was in charge of the Caroliners for six months. Both Hong Kong teams play their first legs away. Johor host the opening match on August 25 while Kitchee play in Kuwait one day later. South China host Johor in the second leg on September 15 and Kitchee meet Kuwait in Hong Kong on September 16. Johor finished top of group F in the round-robin stages, their only loss being a 2-0 defeat by Kitchee at Mong Kok Stadium in March. However, the Malaysian side emerged 2-0 winners when they hosted the Hong Kong side in April. Johor reached the quarter-finals with a 5-0 victory over Myanmar's Ayeyawady United in the last 16 while South China, who won group G with maximum points from six matches, beat India's Bengaluru FC 2-0. Mohd Fahmy Yahya, honorary secretary of Johor DT, said beating Kitchee at home did not give his side the advantage against the Caroliners. "They are both from Hong Kong, but you have to treat each team differently," he said. "All I can say is that we will be prepared for South China, it will be a tough game, but we are confident of reaching the semi-finals." Mior said he had the players to overcome Johor, but was worried about adequate preparation time. "Hong Kong football goes through a holiday period in July and August so I won't have much time to be with the players," he said. "But still, I think we are good enough to go through."
They said they did, but the result of the draw seems so even and so well balanced it is... remarkable.
33.3. A Participating Player shall be eligible to represent maximum one (1) Participating Club per Stage of the Competition. South China signed Cheung Kin-Fung from Kitchee. But Cheung played for Kitchee in the round of 16, which is the knockout stage. Apparently he is not eligible to play for South China in the quarter-finals. That was a poor move, depriving both clubs of a good player...
I want somebody stop Al Kuwait and Al Qadsia for another title )) or final These 2 teams are a big issues in my ranking, ahead clubs like Guangzhou, Jeonbuk or Seoul ... due of Kuweiti league and AFC Cup performances
QF 2015 AFC CUP 1ST LEG (25 AUGUST) Al-Qadsia QF1 Al-Jaish Johor Darul Ta'zim QF2 South China (26 AUGUST) Al-Kuwait QF3 Kitchee Istiklol QF4 Pahang Very impressed to see Istiklol that made their first debut in AFC Cup ; and already qualify until QF.
Kitchee SC has also departed Hong Kong for Kuwait City, to prepare for their match against Kuwait SC.
South China Morning Post South China face tough battle in AFC Cup quarter-final clash in Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim confident of overcoming Hong Kong side in first leg of tie Nazvi Careem in Johor Bahru "Is he scared of South China?" quipped Serbian defender Bojan Malisic after Johor Darul Ta'zim officials apologised for ill coach Mario Gomez's absence from Monday's pre-match press conference for their AFC Cup quarter-final first-leg clash. As it turns out, the former Caroliners' coach has little to fear, given his side's utter dominance of opposing teams at their Larkin Stadium, Johor Bahur, in southern Malaysia - and a number of other factors that weigh in his side's favour. "We have a lot of respect for South China, this is a higher level than what we play domestically but we have a full-strength team, we are strong at home and we cannot lose this match," said assistant coach Ismail Ibrahim. JDT are unbeaten at Larkin Stadium and were recently crowned Malaysian champions, which means they will play in the play-off qualifiers for the 2016 AFC Champions League. They have also played seven competitive matches this season, compared with none for South China, and with a full house of diehard fans expected for Tuesday night's clash, JDT are confident of a repeat of their 2-0 preliminary-round victory over another Hong Kong team, Kitchee. Gomez's successor at South China, Casemiro Mior, said the home side holds all the cards but is confident in his players' ability. "Mario knows how South China play and he knows all the players because he was recently the coach," said Mior. "That will give them an advantage. But we are here to fight. "We respect Johor DT but we also have a strong team. We haven't had any competitive matches but we had a few friendlies and we will play our best. "It's a tough place to win with their fans quite vocal. However, we are happy with our preparations and hope for a good result." South China are hoping to counter the threat of JDT's star Argentine striker Luciano Figuerao. "We know his ability and we are ready for him," said Malisic. "But no team can win with only one player. He is not [Lionel] Messi."
The Star Super League champs JDT ready to ‘fly’ in AFC Cup BY MOHD FARHAAN SHAH JDT defender Aidil Zafuan (left) and team manager Ismail Ibrahim speaking to the media on Monday prior to the AFC Cup quarter-final first leg match against South China in Johor Baru on Tuesday. - BERNAMA JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are in buoyant mood for Tuesday night’s AFC Cup quarter-final, first-leg match against Hong Kong’s South China. The Southern Tigers are playing at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru where they are unbeaten all season. And they also have inside knowledge of their opponents as Mario Gomez was the previous manager for South China before being appointed as JDT head coach. JDT team manager Ismail Ibrahim believes they are ready to fly again after retaining their Super League crown last Saturday. “The players are a bit tired, but they are ready to play against South China. “I am sure the players want to create history by becoming the first Malaysian side to reach the semi-finals,“ said Ismail in a press conference on Monday. To strengthen their attack, JDT have roped in Argentinian attacking midfielder Leandro Velasquez from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) II to replace compatriot Jorge Diaz who is on loan to Argentinian club Independiente. “Leo has been training with us for the past several weeks. He now has a good understanding with Luciano Figueroa and Safiq Rahim. “Gomez also knows about South China and their players and that will help us in the game,” said Ismail. At the same press conference, South China defender Bojan Marisic said they would keep a close watch on striker Figueroa. “He is a world class player with years of experience playing in top leagues in Europe and South America. But Figueroa is no (Lionel) Messi as he cannot beat a team on his own,” said Marisic.