Melbourne first up for defending champions Guangzhou
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, February 25, 2014
|
|
|
Brazilian Muriqui was named AFC Champions League MVP last year after scoring 13 goals, including two against Australia's Central Coast Mariners in the Round of 16, as China's Guangzhou Evergrande won the continental title for a first time. |
Guangzhou Evergrande begin the defence of their AFC Champions League crown against Australia's Melbourne Victory on Wednesday, with Marcello Lippi's Chinese champions bidding to become only the fifth side to retain the continental title.
The Southern Chinese club made history last November as Guangzhou became the first Chinese side to be crowned continental champions since Liaoning won the 1990 Asian Club Championship after edging out Korea Republic's FC Seoul on away goals following an enthralling 3-3 draw on aggregate.
And with Guangzhou having also won the Chinese Super League title for a record third consecutive season, Lippi's virtually unchanged squad are in the hunt to join Thai Farmers Bank, Pohang Steelers, Suwon Bluewings and Al Ittihad on an elite list of sides who have retained the Asian club title.
The acquisition of Alessandro Diamanti is the only significant change to the Guangzhou squad which lost just once en route to the title last season, with the Italy international replacing Argentinian Dario Conca.
Melbourne, meanwhile, have made the trip to China following Saturday's 4-3 win over Adelaide United although Tomas Rogic is a doubt for the meeting with Guangzhou after limping off in the second half following an accidental collision with team-mate Leigh Broxham.
A week earlier Broxham had scored a deflected winner with seven minutes remaining as Kevin Muscat's Melbourne earned a fourth appearance in the AFC Champions League following a 2-1 win over Thailand's Muangthong United in the third round of play-offs.
Muscat, though, will be wary ahead of the trip to Tianhe Sports Centre Stadium after fellow A-League side Central Coast Mariners suffered a 3-0 defeat at the same venue in the Round of 16 last year.
Also in Group G on Tuesday, Japanese Emperor's Cup winners Yokohama F. Marinos travel to Korea to face 2006 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Yokohama had already secured their first appearance in the AFC Champions League since 2005 after finishing second in the J.League before beating domestic champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 in the Emperor's Cup final, while Jeonbuk qualified for the group stage for a fifth consecutive season following a third place finish in the K-League Classic.
"It has been nine years since we last played in Asia's top international club competition, so we are very much looking forward to the challenge," said Yokohama coach Yasuhiro Higuchi.
"Like all teams in the K-League, Jeonbuk are very hard working. Their Brazilian players can create a different rhythm in the midfield and upfront which gives them a certain attacking flare."
In Group H, Japan's Kawasaki Frontale entertain Chinese FA Cup winners Guizhou Renhe while Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers begin their first AFC Champions League campaign at home to 2012 champions Ulsan Hyundai from Korea.
Two-time quarter-finalists Kawasaki won eight of their last 10 games to claim a third place finish in the J.League last year, while Guizhou denied Guangzhou a historic treble after recording a 3-2 aggregate victory in the FA Cup final.
"We are looking forward to bringing our style of football to Asia's biggest club competition. We would like to show our attacking football that we are known for," said Kawasaki coach Yahiro Kazama.
"We were able to improve last season and we have established our playing style. All the players and staff will do our best to learn and improve to refine our style and we hope to show the results of our efforts on the pitch.
"Recently, there is a lot more quality in the Chinese league and we believe that Guizhou Renhe is one of the strongest teams."
Elsewhere, two-time champions Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia mark their return to the AFC Champions League with a trip to Iran to face Tractorsazi Tabriz in Group C, while 2003 winners Al Ain entertain Qatar's Lekhwiya.
Al Ittihad, who won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, reached the semi-finals in their last AFC Champions League appearance in 2012 and earned a return to the competition for a ninth time in 11 years with a 4-2 win over fellow qualifiers Al Shabab in the King's Cup final.
Finally in Group D, two-time Asian Club Championship winners Al Hilal entertain Arabian Gulf League side Al Ahli while 2011 champions Al Sadd begin their campaign at home to former finalists Sepahan from Iran.
Al Hilal lost to Lekhwiya in the Round of 16 last year, while Qatar champions Al Sadd are making their first appearance in the AFC Champions League since beating Jeonbuk on penalties in the 2011 final.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)