Last 16 beckons for former winners
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 14, 2014
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Defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande can secure a third consecutive appearance in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday with victory over Melbourne Victory in Australia despite Marcello Lippi's side losing to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors earlier this month. |
Defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande as well as former continental champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan Hyundai, Al Ittihad, Al Ain and Al Hilal along with Lekhwiya and Al Ahli are all in the hunt for a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League this week with Tuesday's penultimate round of fixtures set to have a major impact on the knockout stage line-up.
Group G leaders Guangzhou travel to Australia to face Melbourne Victory, with Marcello Lippi's side knowing victory will secure a return to the Round of 16 for a third consecutive season.
Guangzhou, though, must bounce back from their 1-0 defeat against Jeonbuk earlier this month against a Melbourne side who must win to guarantee their continental campaign continues until Matchday Six later this month following their earlier 3-2 defeat by Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan.
"Our performance wasn't particularly bad, but we made some mistakes and I take responsibility for those," said Lippi after seeing a 76th minute strike from Jeonbuk's Brazilian striker Leonardo hand Guangzhou a first defeat in the competition since Matchday Five of the 2013 campaign.
Guangzhou, though, will be without striker Gao Lin due to suspension, while Melbourne's James Jeggo will also miss the fixture.
Having hit back following last month's 3-1 defeat in China, 2006 champions Jeonbuk can also guarantee qualification for the last 16 with victory in Japan, with Yokohama needing three points at Yokohama International Stadium to remain in the hunt for a first appearance in the last 16.
In Group H, 2011 winners Ulsan will look to seal a place in the last 16 with victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, while China's Guizhou Renhe entertain Japan's Kawasaki Frontale.
Ulsan have seen their 11-match winning streak and 14-match undefeated run ended in consecutive fixtures against Guizhou, but know a return to winning ways on Tuesday will secure safe passage to the last 16.
Defeat would not end Western Sydney's maiden continental campaign, although despite their 3-1 win over Ulsan, FA Cup winners Guizhou would be eliminated should they lose to Kawasaki.
Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic must do without the services of defender Dean Heffernan and midfielder Iacopo La Rocca due to suspension.
Elsewhere, both inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain and two-time champions Al Ittihad can secure qualification from Group C with a game to spare.
Al Ain travel to Qatar to face 2013 quarter-finalists Lekhwiya knowing victory would seal a return to the last 16 for the first time since 2006, while a draw would also be enough as long as Al Ittihad beat Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz at home.
Tabriz, though, know defeat coupled with a win for Al Ain would end their campaign in the group stage and coach Toni Oliveira must do without Mehdi Kiani and Farshad Amhadzadeh due to suspension.
Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad would advance with victory at King Abdulaziz Sport City as long as Al Ain do not lose in Doha against a Lekhwiya side who could be eliminated should they fail to win.
Finally in Group D, two-time Asian Club Championship winners Al Hilal will advance to the last 16 for a second consecutive season with victory over Al Ahli as long as 2011 champions Al Sadd beat former finalists Sepahan in Iran.
Al Hilal, though, must do without the tournament's joint top scorer Nassir Al Shamrani and his strike partner Yasser Al Qahtani due to suspension.
The task for newly crowned Emirati champions Al Ahli is far simpler with the unbeaten side knowing victory at Rashid Stadium will ensure a place in the Round of 16 for the first time following three group stage exits.
Al Sadd would remain in contention regardless of the results on Matchday Five, although 2007 runner-up Sepahan would be eliminated with a defeat at Foolad Shahr Stadium.
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