AFC Champions League 2005

[Mussav]

Round 1 Results

Group A
Al-Salmiya (Kuwait) 3 Points
Pas (Iran) 3 Points
Al-Rayyan (Qatar) 0
Police Club (Iraq) 0

Mar  9: Pas - Al Rayyan                         2-1 
Mar  9: Al Salmiya - Police                     3-1

Group B
Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) 3 Points
Sepahan (Iran) 1 Point
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 1 Point
Al-Wahda (Syria) 0

Mar  9: Al Ain-Al Wahda                         3-0 
Mar  9: Al Shabab - Sepahan                     1-1

Group C
Al-Sadd (Qatar) 3 Points
Neftchi (Uzbakistan) 3 Points
Kuwait FC (Kuwait) 0
Al-Ahli (United Arab Emirates) 0

Mar  9: Neftchi - Al Kuwait                     1-0 
Mar  9: Al Sadd - Al Ahli                       2-0

Group D
Pakhtakor (Uzbakistan) 3 Points
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 3 Points
Al-Zawra (Iraq) 0
Al-Jaish (Syria) 0

Mar  9: Al Zawra   - Al Ahli                    1-2 
Mar  9: Al Jaish - Pakhtakor                    0-2

Group E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 3 Points
Shenzhen Jianliboa (China) 3 Points
Jubilo Iwata (Japan) 0
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam) 0

Mar  9: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Jubilo Iwata       1-0 
Mar  9: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Suwon S. Bluewings  1-5

Group F
BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand) 3 Points
Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) 3 Points
Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 0
PSM (Indonesia) 0

Mar  9: BEC Tero Sasana - PSM                   0-1 
Mar  9: Yokohama F. Marinos - Shandong L.T.     0-1

Group G
Busan Icons (South Korea) 3 Points
Krung Thai Bank (Thailand) 3 Points
Persebaya (Indonesia) 0
Binh Dinh (Vietnam) 0

Mar  9: Busan Icons - Binh Dinh                 8-0 
Mar  9: Persebaya - Krung Thai Bank             1-2

[Mussav]

Round 2

Group A
Mar 16: Al Rayyan - Al Salmiya
Mar 16: Police Club- Pas

Group B
Mar 16: Al Wahda - Al Shabab
Mar 16: Sepahan - Al Ain

Group C
Mar 16: Al Kuwait - Al Sadd
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Neftchi

Group D
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Al Jaish
Mar 16: Pakhtakor- Al Zawra

Group E
Mar 16: Jubilo Iwata - Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Mar 16: Suwon S. Bluewings - Shenzhen Jianliboa

Group F
Mar 16: PSM - Yokohama F. Marinos
Mar 16: Shandong L. Taishan - BEC Tero Sasana

Group G
Mar 16: Binh Dinh - Persebaya
Mar 16: Krung Thai Bank - Busan Icons

[Yossi]

The Police Club? Do they play in uniform?

[Mussav]

Originally Posted by Yossi

The Police Club? Do they play in uniform?

this just a name. i think
any way go to page 1 and see the Club Shirts

[Mussav]

Shenzhen look to ground high-flying Bluewings



Both Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Shenzhen Jianlibao are approaching Wednesday’s meeting in Suwon’s World Cup Stadium in good heart, after both winning their opening matches in Group E of the Asian Champions League.

The champions of their respective countries know that a win will hand control of the group to the victors.

The China Super League champions’ 1-0 victory over J-League outfit Jubilo Iwata in the opening game was a great start in ‘the Group of Death’, but new coach Chi Shangbin knows that the free-spending Korean champions will be a different proposition.

“It was a vital win for us but the game at Suwon will be more difficult and we will have to be at our best,” said the former captain of China.
Fortunately for Chi, his predecessor at Shenzhen and now coach of China, Zhu Guanghu has not called up Shenzhen’s national team players for upcoming friendlies with Spain and Ireland. Destroyer of Jubilo Li Yi and national team skipper Li Weifeng will therefore be available for the game against the 2004 K-League winners.

The Super League team visited Korea only last month and tasted defeat at the hands of Suwon, with the 2001 and 2002 Asian Club Champions triumphing 3-1 during February’s A3 tournament in Jeju. On that day, Brazilian striker Nadson scored twice, the start of a run that now totals 10 goals in seven games.

“He’s getting better and better,” said Suwon’s coach Cha Bum-kuen when asked about the K-League’s MVP of 2004.

“His team-mates have been playing to his strengths and I hope they continue to do so on Wednesday.”

The Korean champions won their opening game over Hoang Anh Gia Lai. That 5-1 victory in the heat of Vietnam was followed by a hard fought 3-2 victory over fellow Korean side FC Bucheon on Sunday in the Hauzen Cup.

Understandably, Cha is concerned about his team’s condition. “We have had no time to train, just rest.”
The former national coach of Korea has received some good news, however. The KFA agreed on Monday to allow Suwon’s goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae and midfielders Kim Nam-il and Kim Du-hyeon to meet-up with the national team in Dubai on Thursday, as Korea prepare for the vital World Cup qualifying game with Saudi Arabia on March 25.

“Striker Kim Dae-ui is injured but we have the players to cope without him but I don’t know how we would have managed without our two central midfielders,” explained Cha.

One of those players is Sandro Cardoso, who is included in the Suwon squad and may make his competitive debut from the bench against Shenzen.

The Brazilian received an 10-month suspended sentence in February for sexual assault while playing for Japan outfit JEF United. He joined Suwon in the close season.

A big crowd is expected for the game, which kicks off at 19.00 local time.




Inform Al Sadd look to consolidate lead



After their impressive 2-0 win over Al Ahli in the opening match Qatar champions Al Sadd will be looking to maintain their position at the top of Group C when they take on Al Kuwait in Kaifan on Wednesday.

While Al Sadd’s domestic form has been hugely disappointing their match against the UAE President’s Cup winners showed that they may be the team to watch in Group C.

The ace in the Al Sadd pack could be the scorer of both goals against Al Ahli, Hussein Yasser, who is back in Qatar after a European odyssey that saw him trial with Manchester United, sign with Belgian side Antwerp and enjoy a spell in Cyprus with AEL Limossal.

While the Qatar international was in Europe Al Sadd were trying and failing on two previous occasions to get past the Group Stage of the last two Champions Leagues.

The last time Al Sadd played Champions League football in Kuwait was back in April 2004 against Al Qaddissiya in a game which was marred by an unseemly brawl that ultimately led to the ten-time Kuwait champions being thrown out of the competition and banned from AFC competitions for three years.

With Al Qaddissiya winning the 2004 league and cup double, Al Kuwait benefited from their compatriots suspension, qualifying to the 2005 ACL as Crown Prince Cup runners-up.

Having failed to make it past Qualifying Round 2 in the inaugural AFC Champions League, Al Kuwait were hoping to give a good account of themselves in the competition but lost their opening match 1-0 to Neftchi.

To make matters worse for the seven-time Kuwait champions they will have to do without the services of Affas Al Hajiri, whose 75th minute red card in Fergana earned the midfielder a two-match suspension.

Al Kuwait fans will demand a better performance at home and they will be looking for inspiration from national team skipper Bashar Abdullah, who had a spell in the Qatar league with Al Rayyan a few seasons back.

The match, taking place at the Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, kicks-off at 2000hrs local time.




PSM look to defy odds against Marinos



Indonesia’s PSM Makassar may have won their last three matches in the AFC Champions League but they will be hard-pressed to keep that run going when they host reigning Japanese league champions Yokohama F Marinos in a Group F clash on Wednesday.

PSM followed up their victories against Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Thailand’s Krung Thai Bank at the tail-end of last year’s tournament with a surprise 1-0 win over BEC Tero Sasana in Bangkok last Wednesday, giving them a share of the Group F lead after the opening round of games.

Their hopes of extending that record do not look bright though against a Marinos side keen to restore pride after a damaging 1-0 home loss against Chinese FA Cup holders Shandong Luneng.

However, newly appointed PSM head coach Mohammad Basri said that last week’s win against BEC Tero proved that his side possess enough fighting spirit to achieve the unthinkable - beating the mighty Marinos.

“People might see us and dismiss us right away as we look inexperienced and inexpensive, but we have proven that our young squad are capable of doing well last week,” he told footballasia.com.

“All the odds are now against us but this is the biggest event for PSM. Our players know it and will have a lot to prove, especially against a team like Yokohama.”

PSM looked to be in dire straits earlier this year, mainly due to the financial problems caused by the loss of their main sponsors, cement giant Semen Bosowa. Their participation in the AFC Champions League was in jeopardy due to the lack of funds at the club, which also resulted in Basri coming in to replace Miroslav Janu when they failed to agree a contract renewal with the Czech coach.

Adding to PSM’s woes, a number of star players left the club in the off-season including Indonesia international centre back Charis Yulianto and left back Ortizan Salossa for Persija Jakarta and centre back Jack Komboy for Persipura Jayapura.

Although the midfield dynamic duo of Syamsul Bachri and Ponaryo Astaman remain with the team, this year’s line-up includes a number of unfamiliar names, mainly drawn from the club’s youth ranks or acquired from lower divisions’ teams including right back Akmal and Jais Lestaluhu, left back Adriansyah, forward Akbar Rasyid and midfielder Qadar Usman, all of whom are playing in Indonesia’s premier division for the first time.

For that reason, Basri will have to look to some of his more experienced players to help nurture the young talent and he might have found a leader in close-season signing Osvaldo Moreno, who scored the winner in Bangkok last week. The Paraguayan striker was signed from Persib Bandung, where he made his mark with seven goals in nine games after joining them late last season.

“I believe that Osvaldo’s role will be crucial for us this season as we hope for him to look after our young players,” said Basri.

Moreno himself is upbeat about the chances of the young and inexperienced PSM squad.

“People may forget that this team also participated in this competition last year. Playing against a team like Yokohama is nothing new to us and we have the mental strength and the will to win this clash,” he said.

PSM will have their depleted back-line back in order with Ponaryo, Papuan defender Abraham Tobias and Cameroon centre back Abanda Abanda Herman returning after missing out on last week’s trip to Thailand. However, goalkeeper Syamsidar is questionable after sustaining an injury during the BEC Tero match.

Meanwhile, the Marinos cannot afford any further slip-ups after last week’s disappointing home display against Shandong. Despite dominating, the J.League champions failed to find the back of the net and were punished as Gao Yao scored the only goal for the Chinese side.

It was the third straight setback for the Marinos after going down to Tokyo Verdy in a penalty shootout in the Japanese Super Cup and suffering a controversial 1-0 loss to Jubilo Iwata in their J.League season-opener.

They got back on track last weekend with a battling performance in the league against Cerezo Osaka as they came from behind twice to win 3-2 with recently-signed Hideo Oshima netting a hat-trick.

With Japan international Tatsuhiko Kubo and his Korean strike partner Ahn Jung-hwan yet to return from long-term injuries, Oshima will have to shoulder much of the scoring load for now and his three goals against Cerezo will give him a massive boost of confidence ahead of his team’s visit to Sulawesi.

The match at the Matoangin Stadium kicks off at 19:30 hrs local time.

[Mussav]

Points a necessity for Japan's big guns



Japan’s two representatives in the AFC Champions League – Jubilo Iwata and Yokohama F Marinos - will be expected to kick-start their campaigns when they take on opposition from Vietnam and Indonesia on Matchday Two of Asia's premier tournament.

Expectations were high going into the tournament that the Japanese duo, both of whom failed to get beyond the Group Stage of last year’s AFC Champions League, would signal their intentions in last week’s opening round of games in Asia’s premier club tournament.

The reality was somewhat different, with both sides going down to 1-0 defeats against teams from China.

The Marinos’ loss to Shandong Luneng, the China FA Cup winners, was regarded by most observers as inexcusable given the fact that Takeshi Okada’s side were playing at home.

In their defence, the Marinos were short of several first-team regulars and were up against a side at full strength. Confidence was also low in the camp following defeat, to Jubilo, in the opening game of the 2005 J.League season.

The Marinos registered their first victory of the season at the weekend, a 3-2 win over Cerezo Osaka, thanks to Hideo Oshima’s hat-trick and Okada will be hoping the win can act as a springboard as his team face up to their meeting with PSM Makassar, who caused an upset last week with a 1-0- win over 2003 AFC Champions League runners-up BEC Tero Sasana, of Thailand.

PSM Makassar have the smallest squad in the competition, with a total of just 13 outfield players officially registered with competition organisers.

Given that fact that Yokohama have a squad sprinkled with internationals, including Yuji Nakazawa, the 2004 J-League player of the year, this Group F encounter should see the natural order of Asian football assert itself.

Japan’s other’s representatives, Jubilo Iwata, are at home toVietnamese outfit Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Jubilo, like the Marinos, lost their opening game to Chinese opposition by a solitary goal. The away defeat last week to Shenzen Jianlibao was followed at the weekend by a 3-0 loss at home in the J-League to Nagoya Grampus Eight.

It may be too early to speak of a crisis in the Jubilo ranks, but defeat to Hoang Anh, the Vietnam league winners, would almost certainly spell the end of Jubilo’s interest in the tournament given the fact that the group also contains Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who served notice of their intentions with a 5-1 away win over Hoang Anh last week.

Suwon, who are coached by former national team legend Cha Bum-keun, meet Shenzen at home in what may turn out to be the group decider. The Bluewings are likely to be close to full strength and will look to Brazilian striker Nadson, who has scored 11 goals in six games so far this season. Incidentally, the two met last month in the A3 Champions Cup, with Suwon winning 3-1.

In the west, the game attracting most interest sees Sepahan, of Iran, take on Al Ain, the 2003 AFC Champions League winners, Group B.

The UAE league winners, coached by former Oman boss Milan Macala, got their 2005 AFC Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Al Wahda, of Syria.

Sepahan, under new coach Stanko Poklepovic, rescued a point from their game with Saudi giants Al Shabab thanks to a late goal from Mahmoud Karimi. The Hazfi Cup winners have not been on top form in the Iran Pro League and currently lie in 13th place, three off the bottom.

Another game to catch the eye takes place in Group C between Al Kuwait and Al Sadd, of Qatar.

Al Kuwait, who lost their opening game to Neftchi Fergana last week, are only in the competition because Al Qaddisiya, the Kuwait league and cup champions, have been banned from the AFC Champions League for three years after a mass brawl erupted during their group clash with Al Sadd in last year’s AFC Champions League.

Al Sadd, the Qatar league champions, are coached by Bora Milutinovic, the former China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nigeria and USA coach.

[Mussav]

Police goalie denies Pas second win

Police Club custodian Ali Hussein put on an excellent performance as he steered his side to their first ever point in the AFC Champions League in a 1-1 draw with Iran Pro league champions Pas in a Group A clash on Tuesday. The Iraqi side took a 1-0 lead at half-time through Ayad Abbas’s 31st minute strike but Pas came back to equalize in the 62nd minute through Malian midfielder Issa Traore. The Iranians had the upper hand in the match but their pressure failed to tell as they were continually denied by Ali Hussein, who has recently been called up by the Iraq national team. Having beaten Qatar’s Al Rayyan 2-1 in their opening Group A match, Pas looked like making it two wins out of two in the opening stages with Iran international midfielder Javad Nekounam turning on the style. The 24-year-old, who scored both Pas goals against Rayyan, stated the game brightly and had two chances to break the deadlock early on but Hussein easily dealt with the threats. Hussein was called into action in the 25th minute when he was beaten by Hossein Pashaei who set the ball up for Mohsen Bayatiniya to slot the ball into an open goal. However, the Iraqi goalkeeper regained his position to stop Bayatiniya and keep the score level. A minute later, Pashaei combined well again with Bayatiniya on a one-two play before launching a powerful shot that was well stopped by Hussein. Hussein’s heroics paid off five minutes later when Police Club midfielder Ayad Abbas met a cross from Hashim Ridha to head home the opening goal on 31 minutes. With half-time approaching, Pas had a chance to level the score in the 41st minute but Bayatiniya’s effort went inches past the left post. Pas continued to dominate in the opening minutes of the second half as Turkish coach Mustafa Denizli sent out Issa Traore and Iran international forward Arash Borhani to step up the pressure. On the hour mark, Pas midfielder Hamid Hedayate nearly equalized as Ali Hussein turned his powerful shot onto his left post. The equalizer wasn’t long in coming though as substitute Traore fired home a powerful right-foot shot from the edge of the area to level the score for Pas in the 62nd minute. Nekounam had a late chance to win the game three minutes from time but his shot was blocked by two Iraqi defenders as a physical encounter, played on a dreadful pitch at the Prince Mohammed International Stadium, ended in a 1-1 draw. With the result, Pas moved to the top of Group A with four points, one ahead of Kuwait’s Al Salmiya who will take on Al Rayyan on Wednesday.

[Mussav]

Round 2 Results

Group A
Pas (Iran) 4 Points
Al-Salmiya (Kuwait) 3 Points
Al-Rayyan (Qatar) 3 Points
Police Club (Iraq) 1 Point

Mar  9: Pas - Al Rayyan                         2-1 
Mar  9: Al Salmiya - Police                     3-1 

Mar 16: Al Rayyan - Al Salmiya                  2-1 
Mar 15: Police - Pas                            1-1

Group B
Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) 4 Points
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 4 Points
Sepahan (Iran) 2 Points
Al-Wahda (Syria) 0

Mar  9: Al Ain-Al Wahda                         3-0 
Mar  9: Al Shabab - Sepahan                     1-1 

Mar 16: Al Wahda - Al Shabab                    1-2 
Mar 16: Sepahan - Al Ain                        1-1

Group C
Al-Sadd (Qatar) 6 Points
Al-Ahli (United Arab Emirates) 3 Points
Neftchi (Uzbakistan) 3 Points
Kuwait FC (Kuwait) 0

Mar  9: Neftchi - Al Kuwait                     1-0 
Mar  9: Al Sadd - Al Ahli                       2-0 

Mar 16: Al Kuwait - Al Sadd                     0-1 
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Neftchi                       3-0

Group D
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 6 Points
Pakhtakor (Uzbakistan) 3 Points
Al-Zawra (Iraq) 3 Points
Al-Jaish (Syria) 0

Mar  8: Al Zawra   - Al Ahli                    1-2 
Mar  9: Al Jaish - Pakhtakor                    0-2 

Mar 16: Al Ahli - Al Jaish                      3-1 
Mar 16: Pakhtakor- Al Zawra                     1-2

Group E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 4 Points
Shenzhen Jianliboa (China) 4 Points
Jubilo Iwata (Japan) 0
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam) 0

Mar  9: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Jubilo Iwata       1-0 
Mar  9: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Suwon S. Bluewings  1-5 

Mar 16: Jubilo Iwata - Hoang Anh Gia Lai        6-0 
Mar 16: Suwon S. Bluewings - Shenzhen Jianliboa 0-0

Group F
Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) 6 Points
Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 3 Points
PSM (Indonesia) 3 Points
BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand) 0

Mar  9: BEC Tero Sasana - PSM                   0-1 
Mar  9: Yokohama F. Marinos - Shandong L.T.     0-1 

Mar 16: PSM - Yokohama F. Marinos               0-2 
Mar 16: Shandong L. Taishan - BEC Tero Sasana   1-0

Group G
Busan Icons (South Korea) 6 Points
Krung Thai Bank (Thailand) 3 Points
Persebaya (Indonesia) 1 Point
Binh Dinh (Vietnam) 1 Point

Mar  9: Busan Icons - Binh Dinh                 8-0 
Mar  9: Persebaya - Krung Thai Bank             1-2 

Mar 16: Binh Dinh - Persebaya                   0-0 
Mar 16: Krung Thai Bank - Busan Icons           0-2

[Mussav]

Round 3

Group A

Apr  6: Al Rayyan - Police                       - 
Apr  6: Pas - Al Salmiya                         -

Group B

Apr  6: Al Wahda - Sepahan                       - 
Apr  6: Al Ain - Al Shabab                       -

Group C

Apr  6: Al Kuwait - Al Ahli                      - 
Apr  6: Neftchi - Al Sadd                        -

Group D

Apr  6: Al Ahli  - Pakhtakor                     - 
Apr  5: Al Zawra - Al Jaish                      -

Group E

Apr  6: Jubilo Iwata - Suwon Samsung Bluewings   - 
Apr  6: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Hoang Anh Gia Lai   -

Group F

 
Apr  6: PSM - Shandong Luneng Taishan            - 
Apr  6: BEC Tero Sasana - Yokohama F. Marinos    -

Group G

Apr  6: Binh Dinh - Krung Thai Bank              - 
Apr  6: Busan Icons - Persebaya                  -

[Mussav]

Al Ain fall further off the pace

AFC Champions League side Al Ain failed to close the gap on league leaders Al Wahda in the latest round of league games in the United Arab Emirates.

Al Ain, coached by Milan Macala, were held to a 2-2 draw by Al Wasl, leaving leaders Al Wasl six points clear after their 4-3 win over Al Jazira.

Al Ain, the defending champions, raced into a two-goal lead thanks to a first-half brace from Edilson, their Brazilian striker. But goals from Hassan Taresh and Ismail Rashed after the break after the home side saw the points shared.

The result leaves Al Ain, currently top of AFC Champions League Group B on goal difference, in third place, seven points behind the leaders, who had Darko Metrovic and Ismael Matar to thank for their goals in their win over Al Jazira, who lie second in the table on 40 points

Al Ahli, the UAE'S other AFC Champions League representative, were also in action at the weekend, but they could only manage a point against Al Shabab.

Ali Zitouni, the team's Tunisian striker, and Faisal Khalil were on target for the visitors but a brace from Ali Samerai ensured parity.

The result leaves Winifred Schaefer's side in mid-table on 25 points. Al Ahli are currently

[Mussav]

Marinos on song; Jubilo off colour

A goal seven minutes from time from Japan-born Briton Robert Cullen salvaged a point for Jubilo Iwata against Shimuzu S-Pulse in the third round of matches in the 2005 J-League .

Jubilo, who opened the season with an away win over fellow AFC Champions League representatives Yokohama F Marinos, lost their last home game 3-0, causing coach Masakuni Yamamoto to issue a formal apology to fans.

And it looked like the former Japan Olympic team coach might have to be grovelling again until second half substitute Cullen popped up in the 83rd minute to rescue a point from close range.

After an exhausting four matches - two in the J.League and two in the AFC Champions League - in 10 days, Yamamoto's charges had time to recharge their batteries as Nabisco Cup action replaced league football for the last two weekends. Jubilo, like Yokohama F Marinos, have a bye into the quarter-finals.


Jubilo may have been without veteran striker Masashi Nakayama, the J-League's all-time leading scorer, and goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who has yet to make his debut for Jubilo following his return from Europe. Despite these absence, Jubilo were expected to take all three points - and bragging rights - in this Shizuoka derby match. The draw leaves Jubilo in eighth place in the 18-team table.

Yokohama F Marinos, who face an easier task on Wednesday when they travel to Thailand to play BEC Tero Sasana, climbed up to fourth place in the table with a comfortable 4-1 home win over Albirex Niggata.

The Marinos, who lost their opening game of the season to Jubilo, got their second win of the season thanks to two goals in the opening three minutes from Hideo Oshima and Masahiro Ohashi. Ryuji Kawai made it three on 37 minutes, and although the visitors pulled one back, the Marinos restored their three-goal cushion with a goal from Hayuma Tanaka 10 minutes from time.

As well as the result, Marinos were also buoyed by the return from injury of Korea Repulic national team striker Ahn Jung-hwan, who has been out of action since the end of last year. Ahn played 63 minutes before being substituted.

FC Toyko are top of the table after a 2-1 away win over Vissel Kobe. FC Tokyo are one of three sides on seven points after three games, along with Kashima Antlers, who beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-1, and Omiya Ardija, 1-0 winners over Cerezo Osaka.

White Seagulls seek to soar to Group D summit

Iraq side Al Zawra’a could find themselves temporarily at the top of Group D on Tuesday if they win their AFC Champions League 2005 clash against strugglers Al Jaish by three goals or more.

The ‘White Seagulls’ currently occupy third place in the four-team group behind Pakhtakor on goal difference but will leap frog the Uzbek giants if they can take all three points against an Al Jaish side that has already conceded five goals in two Champions League matches.

The Red Eagles, who last year made history when they defeated Damascus rivals Al Wahda to claim the inaugural AFC Cup, have had a disappointing campaign thus far, losing 2-0 at home to Pakhtakor and 3-1 to Al Ahli in Jeddah.

Al Zawra’a on the other hand have had quite an impressive tournament, recording a stunning upset victory over Pakhtakor in Tashkent after more than holding their own in the narrow 2-1 opening round defeat by Al Ahli.

And having already secured progression to the second stage of the 2004/05 Iraq championship with ten wins, three draws and no defeats, confidence is high with Al Zawra’a, who have won an incredible 27 domestic titles since their foundation in 1969.

Al Jaish’s form over their domestic season has oscillated, although the 11-time Syrian champions go into Tuesday’s meeting with the Iraqi’s buoyed by an impressive 3-1 victory over third-place Al Qrdaha.

Head coach Costica Stefanescu, who holds the all-time league appearances record in Romania having played 490 times during spells with Steaua Bucharest and University Craiova, will be hoping Al Jaish will carry that form into the ACL match with Al Zawra’a.

The Syrians desperately need all three points if they are to resurrect any hopes of making it through to the quarter-finals.

While this is effectively a home match for Al Zawra’a, the game is being played at the Tripoli Municipal Stadium in Lebanon on account of the turbulent political situation in Baghdad. The game kicks-off at 1430hrs local time.

Group leaders Al Ahli entertain Pakhtakor on Wednesday, with the match at Jeddah’s Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium getting underway at 2040hrs local time.

[Mussav]

Jubilo look to clip Suwon wings

After last week’s World Cup 2006 qualifiers, attention in Asia returns to club football with the resumption, after a two-week break, of the AFC Champions League.

Like last week’s FIFA games, much of the attention will focus on Japan and the tie of Matchday Three between Jubilo Iwata and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group E, the competition’s ‘group of death’.
The 2004 K.League champions currently top the table on goal difference ahead of China FA Cup winners Shenzhen Jianlibao, who are sure to pick up maximum points from their home game against group makeweights Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
With only the group winners progressing to the quarter-finals, a defeat for either side in the Yamaha Stadium could signal an end to their interest in the competition with three games left to play.

And Jubilo, who are coached by Masakuni Yamamoto, will be looking to gain some revenge for the defeat they suffered to Suwon the last time these two met in a continental competition.
That was back in the 2000/01 Asian Club Championship final, with Brazilian striker Sandro scoring the only goal of the game. The 25-year-old is back with Suwon after a spell in Japan which was cut short after he pleaded guilty to sexual assault.
Yokohama F Marinos, Japan’s other representative in the competition, are also in action but against less exalted opposition.

BEC Tero Sasana, of Thailand, may have got to the final of the inaugural AFC Champions League but they are a shadow of their former selves and have a new coach, Payong Khunnen, who took over from Sasom Pobprasert last week.
In west Asia, the biggest game of Matchday Three sees Al Ain, AFC Champions League winners in 2003, take on Al Shabab, of Saudi Arabia, in a top-of-the-table clash in Group B.
Both sides are on four points, but Al Ain, coached by former Oman coach Milan Macala, seem to be improving with every game and go into the game fresh from a 7-0 win over Al Ittihad at the weekend.
Elsewhere in west Asia, Qatar’s Al Sadd will be looking to make it three wins from three when they travel to Neftchi Fergana, of Uzbekistan.
Al Ahli, of Saudi Arabia, have also won both their two AFC Champions League games in Group D and could take a strangehold on the group with a win over Pakhtakor, semi-finalists in both the 2004 and 2003 AFC Champions League.
Uzbekistan football is in something of a slump at the moment, with the national team without a win in three World Cup 2006 qualifiers. To add insult to injury, Pakhtakor, the Uzbek league and cup winners in 2004, lost their second consecutive home game in the AFC Champions League on Matchday Two.
That in itself may not sound like a crisis but given the fact the club had won 10 straight AFC Champions League games in Tashkent, you get some idea of how far the mighty have fallen.
The winner of the AFC Champions League will qualify for the FIFA Club World Championship, which takes place in December in Japan.

ACL - Matchday Three (all games Wednesday except where stated)
Group A
Pas (IRN) v Al Salmiya (KUW)
Al Rayyan (QAT) v Police Club (IRQ)
Group B
Al Wahda (SYR) v Sepahan (IRN)
Al Ain (UAE) v Al Shabab (KSA)
Group C
Neftchi Fergana (UZB) v Al Sadd (QAT)
Al Kuwait (KUW) v Al Ahli (UAE)
Group D
Al Zawra’a (IRQ) v Al Jaish (SYR) (Tuesday)
Al Ahli (KSA) v Pakhtakor (UZB)
Group E
Jubilo Iwata (JAP) v Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)
Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) v Hoang Anh Gai Lia (VIE)
Group F
BEC Tero (THA) v Yokohama F Marinos (JPN)
PSM Makassar (IDN) v Shandong Luneng (CHN)
Group G
Busan I’Park (KOR) v Persebaya Surabaya (IDN)
Binh Dinh (VIE) v Krung Thai Bank (THA)

[Mussav]

Group A
Pas (Iran) 7 Points
Al-Rayyan (Qatar) 6 Points
Al-Salmiya (Kuwait) 3 Points
Police Club (Iraq) 1 Point

Mar  9: Pas - Al Rayyan                         2-1 
Mar  9: Al Salmiya - Police                     3-1 
Mar 16: Al Rayyan - Al Salmiya                  2-1 
Mar 15: Police - Pas                            1-1 
Apr  6: Al Rayyan - Police                      0-2 
Apr  6: Pas - Al Salmiya                        5-1 
Apr 20: Police - Al Rayyan                       - 
Apr 20: Al Salmiya - Pas                         - 
May 11: Al Rayyan - Pas                          - 
May 11: Police - Al Salmiya                      - 
May 25: Pas - Police                             - 
May 25: Al Salmiya - Al Rayyan                   -

Group B
Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) 7 Points
Sepahan (Iran) 5 Points
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 4 Points
Al-Wahda (Syria) 0

Mar  9: Al Ain-Al Wahda                         3-0 
Mar  9: Al Shabab - Sepahan                     1-1 
Mar 16: Al Wahda - Al Shabab                    1-2 
Mar 16: Sepahan - Al Ain                        1-1 
Apr  6: Al Wahda - Sepahan                      1-3 
Apr  6: Al Ain - Al Shabab                      3-0 
Apr 20: Sepahan - Al Wahda                       - 
Apr 20: Al Shabab - Al Ain                       - 
May 11: Al Wahda - Al Ain                        - 
May 11: Sepahan - Al Shabab                      - 
May 25: Al Ain - Sepahan                         - 
May 25: Al Shabab - Al Wahda                     -

Group C
Al-Sadd (Qatar) 6 Points
Neftchi (Uzbakistan) 6 Points
Al-Ahli (United Arab Emirates) 3 Points
Kuwait FC (Kuwait) 3 Points

Mar  9: Neftchi - Al Kuwait                     1-0 
Mar  9: Al Sadd - Al Ahli                       2-0 
Mar 16: Al Kuwait - Al Sadd                     0-1 
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Neftchi                       3-0 
Apr  6: Al Kuwait - Al Ahli                     1-0 
Apr  6: Neftchi - Al Sadd                       2-0 
Apr 20: Al Ahli - Al Kuwait                      - 
Apr 20: Al Sadd - Neftchi                        - 
May 11: Al Kuwait - Neftchi                      - 
May 11: Al Ahli - Al Sadd                        - 
May 25: Neftchi - Al Ahli                        - 
May 25: Al Sadd - Al Kuwait                      -

Group D
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 9 Points
Pakhtakor (Uzbakistan) 3 Points
Al-Zawra (Iraq) 3 Points
Al-Jaish (Syria) 3 Points

Mar  8: Al Zawra   - Al Ahli                    1-2 
Mar  9: Al Jaish - Pakhtakor                    0-2 
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Al Jaish                      3-1 
Mar 16: Pakhtakor- Al Zawra                     1-2 
Apr  6: Al Ahli  - Pakhtakor                    3-0 
Apr  6: Al Zawra - Al Jaish                     1-5 
Apr 20: Pakhtakor - Al Ahli                      - 
Apr 20: Al Jaish - Al Zawra                      - 
May 11: Al Ahli  - Al Zawra                      - 
May 11: Pakhtakor  - Al Jaish                    - 
May 25: Al Zawra - Pakhtakor                     - 
May 25: Al Jaish - Al Ahli                       -

Group E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 7 Points
Shenzhen Jianliboa (China) 7 Points
Jubilo Iwata (Japan) 3 Points
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam) 0

Mar  9: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Jubilo Iwata       1-0 
Mar  9: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Suwon S. Bluewings  1-5 
Mar 16: Jubilo Iwata - Hoang Anh Gia Lai        6-0 
Mar 16: Suwon S. Bluewings - Shenzhen Jianliboa 0-0 
Apr  6: Jubilo Iwata - Suwon Samsung Bluewings  0-1 
Apr  6: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Hoang Anh Gia Lai  5-0 
Apr 20: Suwon Samsung Bluewings - Jubilo Iwata   - 
Apr 20: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Shenzhen Jianliboa   - 
May 11: Jubilo Iwata - Shenzhen Jianliboa        - 
May 11: Suwon S. Bluewings - Hoang Anh Gia Lai   - 
May 25: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Suwon S. Bluewings  - 
May 25: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Jubilo Iwata         -

Group F
Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) 9 Points
Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 6 Points
PSM (Indonesia) 3 Points
BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand) 0

Mar  9: BEC Tero Sasana - PSM                   0-1 
Mar  9: Yokohama F. Marinos - Shandong L.T.     0-1 
Mar 16: PSM - Yokohama F. Marinos               0-2 
Mar 16: Shandong L. Taishan - BEC Tero Sasana   1-0 
Apr  6: PSM - Shandong Luneng Taishan           0-1 
Apr  6: BEC Tero Sasana - Yokohama F. Marinos   1-2 
Apr 20: Shandong Luneng Taishan - PSM            - 
Apr 20: Yokohama F. Marinos - BEC Tero Sasana    - 
May 11: PSM - BEC Tero Sasana                    - 
May 11: Shandong L.T. - Yokohama F. Marinos      - 
May 25: BEC Tero Sasana - Shandong L. Taishan    - 
May 25: Yokohama F. Marinos - PSM                -

Group G
Busan Icons (South Korea) 9 Points
Krung Thai Bank (Thailand) 6 Points
Persebaya (Indonesia) 1 Point
Binh Dinh (Vietnam) 1 Point

Mar  9: Busan Icons - Binh Dinh                 8-0 
Mar  9: Persebaya - Krung Thai Bank             1-2 
Mar 16: Binh Dinh - Persebaya                   0-0 
Mar 16: Krung Thai Bank - Busan Icons           0-2 
Apr  6: Binh Dinh - Krung Thai Bank             1-2 
Apr  6: Busan Icons - Persebaya                 4-0 
Apr 20: Krung Thai Bank - Binh Dinh              - 
Apr 20: Persebaya - Busan Icons                  - 
May 11: Binh Dinh - Busan Icons                  - 
May 11: Krung Thai Bank - Persebaya              - 
May 25: Busan Icons - Krung Thai Bank            - 
May 25: Persebaya - Binh Dinh                    -

[Mussav]

Group A
Pas (Iran) 10 Points
Al-Rayyan (Qatar) 7 Points
Al-Salmiya (Kuwait) 3 Points
Police Club (Iraq) 2 Points

Mar  9: Pas - Al Rayyan                         2-1 
Mar  9: Al Salmiya - Police                     3-1 
Mar 16: Al Rayyan - Al Salmiya                  2-1 
Mar 15: Police - Pas                            1-1 
Apr  6: Al Rayyan - Police                      0-2 
Apr  6: Pas - Al Salmiya                        5-1 
Apr 20: Police - Al Rayyan                      0-0 
Apr 20: Al Salmiya - Pas                        0-1 
May 11: Al Rayyan - Pas                          - 
May 11: Police - Al Salmiya                      - 
May 25: Pas - Police                             - 
May 25: Al Salmiya - Al Rayyan                   -

Group B
Sepahan (Iran) 8 Points
Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) 7 Points
Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 7 Points
Al-Wahda (Syria) 0

Mar  9: Al Ain-Al Wahda                         3-0 
Mar  9: Al Shabab - Sepahan                     1-1 
Mar 16: Al Wahda - Al Shabab                    1-2 
Mar 16: Sepahan - Al Ain                        1-1 
Apr  6: Al Wahda - Sepahan                      1-3 
Apr  6: Al Ain - Al Shabab                      3-0 
Apr 20: Sepahan - Al Wahda                      2-0 
Apr 20: Al Shabab - Al Ain                      1-0 
May 11: Al Wahda - Al Ain                        - 
May 11: Sepahan - Al Shabab                      - 
May 25: Al Ain - Sepahan                         - 
May 25: Al Shabab - Al Wahda                     -

Group C
Al-Sadd (Qatar) 9 Points
Neftchi (Uzbakistan) 6 Points
Al-Ahli (United Arab Emirates) 4 Points
Kuwait FC (Kuwait) 4 Points

Mar  9: Neftchi - Al Kuwait                     1-0 
Mar  9: Al Sadd - Al Ahli                       2-0 
Mar 16: Al Kuwait - Al Sadd                     0-1 
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Neftchi                       3-0 
Apr  6: Al Kuwait - Al Ahli                     1-0 
Apr  6: Neftchi - Al Sadd                       2-0 
Apr 20: Al Ahli - Al Kuwait                     3-3 
Apr 20: Al Sadd - Neftchi                       3-2 
May 11: Al Kuwait - Neftchi                      - 
May 11: Al Ahli - Al Sadd                        - 
May 25: Neftchi - Al Ahli                        - 
May 25: Al Sadd - Al Kuwait                      -

Group D
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) 9 Points
Pakhtakor (Uzbakistan) 6 Points
Al-Zawra (Iraq) 4 Points
Al-Jaish (Syria) 4 Points

Mar  8: Al Zawra   - Al Ahli                    1-2 
Mar  9: Al Jaish - Pakhtakor                    0-2 
Mar 16: Al Ahli - Al Jaish                      3-1 
Mar 16: Pakhtakor- Al Zawra                     1-2 
Apr  6: Al Ahli  - Pakhtakor                    3-0 
Apr  6: Al Zawra - Al Jaish                     1-5 
Apr 20: Pakhtakor - Al Ahli                     2-1 
Apr 20: Al Jaish - Al Zawra                     0-0 
May 11: Al Ahli  - Al Zawra                      - 
May 11: Pakhtakor  - Al Jaish                    - 
May 25: Al Zawra - Pakhtakor                     - 
May 25: Al Jaish - Al Ahli                       -

Group E
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) 10 Points
Shenzhen Jianliboa (China) 10 Points
Jubilo Iwata (Japan) 3 Points
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam) 0

Mar  9: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Jubilo Iwata       1-0 
Mar  9: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Suwon S. Bluewings  1-5 
Mar 16: Jubilo Iwata - Hoang Anh Gia Lai        6-0 
Mar 16: Suwon S. Bluewings - Shenzhen Jianliboa 0-0 
Apr  6: Jubilo Iwata - Suwon Samsung Bluewings  0-1 
Apr  6: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Hoang Anh Gia Lai  5-0 
Apr 20: Suwon Samsung Bluewings - Jubilo Iwata  2-1 
Apr 20: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Shenzhen Jianliboa  0-2 
May 11: Jubilo Iwata - Shenzhen Jianliboa        - 
May 11: Suwon S. Bluewings - Hoang Anh Gia Lai   - 
May 25: Shenzhen Jianliboa - Suwon S. Bluewings  - 
May 25: Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Jubilo Iwata         -

Group F
Shandong Luneng Taishan (China) 12 Points
Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan) 9 Points
PSM (Indonesia) 3 Points
BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand) 0

Mar  9: BEC Tero Sasana - PSM                   0-1 
Mar  9: Yokohama F. Marinos - Shandong L.T.     0-1 
Mar 16: PSM - Yokohama F. Marinos               0-2 
Mar 16: Shandong L. Taishan - BEC Tero Sasana   1-0 
Apr  6: PSM - Shandong Luneng Taishan           0-1 
Apr  6: BEC Tero Sasana - Yokohama F. Marinos   1-2 
Apr 20: Shandong Luneng Taishan - PSM           6-1 
Apr 20: Yokohama F. Marinos - BEC Tero Sasana   2-0 
May 11: PSM - BEC Tero Sasana                    - 
May 11: Shandong L.T. - Yokohama F. Marinos      - 
May 25: BEC Tero Sasana - Shandong L. Taishan    - 
May 25: Yokohama F. Marinos - PSM                -

Group G
Busan Icons (South Korea) 12 Points
Krung Thai Bank (Thailand) 6 Points
Binh Dinh (Vietnam) 4 Point
Persebaya (Indonesia) 1 Point

Mar  9: Busan Icons - Binh Dinh                 8-0 
Mar  9: Persebaya - Krung Thai Bank             1-2 
Mar 16: Binh Dinh - Persebaya                   0-0 
Mar 16: Krung Thai Bank - Busan Icons           0-2 
Apr  6: Binh Dinh - Krung Thai Bank             1-2 
Apr  6: Busan Icons - Persebaya                 4-0 
Apr 20: Krung Thai Bank - Binh Dinh             0-1 
Apr 20: Persebaya - Busan Icons                 0-3 
May 11: Binh Dinh - Busan Icons                  - 
May 11: Krung Thai Bank - Persebaya              - 
May 25: Busan Icons - Krung Thai Bank            - 
May 25: Persebaya - Binh Dinh                    -