East Zone eight eye ACL Playoff spot
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 2, 2016
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Four teams will take a step closer to realising their dreams of taking part in Asia's premier club competition on Tuesday as the qualifiers for the 2016 AFC Champions League gathers pace with Preliminary Stage 2 of the East Zone. The quest to reach the 14th edition of the continental club showcase competition has already begun for one side as Mohun Bagan defeated Tampines Rovers 3-1 at the end of January in the one and only Preliminary Stage 1 fixture.
It was the first of three victories the 2014/15 I-League champions need to become the first team from India to take part in the Group Stage of the ACL since the tournament's inception. And Mohun Bagan were in impressive form as goals from Jeje Lalpekhlua, Trinidad & Tobago international Cornel Glen, and skipper Yusa Katsumi saw the Mariners sink the Stags, but head coach Sanjoy Sen knows his side face a sterner challenge when they take on 2005 ACL quarter-finalists Shandong Luneng.
Mohun Bagan head to China on the back of a 2-0 domestic victory over DSK Shijavians, their fourth of the current I-League campaign, while Shandong, who have 2015 Chinese Super League top scorer Aloisi in their ranks, have yet to play a competitive fixture under new coach Mano Menezes, the former Brazil senior and Olympic team manager who took over from compatriot Cuca in December.
The winners of the match at the Jinan Olympic Sports Centre face a trip to Australia to take on 2008 AFC Champions League runners-up with seven-time ACL participants Shandong looking to become the second Chinese team in the 2016 Playoffs, alongside Shanghai SIPG.
The 2015 Chinese Super League runners-up await the team that emerges victorious from Tuesday's mouthwatering all-ASEAN clash between Muangthong United and 2015 AFC Cup winners Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT).
Muangthong have been boosting their ranks ahead of their mission to return to the AFC Champions League Group Stage for only the second time since debuting in 2013 with the signing of young Thailand internationals Chanathip Songkrasin, defender Tanaboon Kesarat, and left-back Peerapat Notechaiya. However, the team must gel quickly under new coach Totchtawan Sripan, who took charge of the Twin Qilins less than two weeks before the JDT meeting, with the former Police United boss replacing Al Ittihad's 2004 ACL-winning coach Dragan Taljic.
Meanwhile JDT are looking to become the first Malaysian side to take part in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League as the Southern Tigers aim to make history for the second time after becoming the first side from the South East Asian nation to win the AFC Cup following their 1-0 triumph over FC Istklol in last October's final.
Muangthong's Thai Premier League rivals Chonburi - led by inaugural AFC Champions League MVP Therdsak Chaiman - also face ASEAN opposition as they look to return for a second ACL campaign having fell in the 2012, 2013, and 2015 qualifiers.
The Sharks host Myanmar champions Yangon United, who like JDT are looking to become the first team from their country to reach the ACL proper, with the two sides renewing acquaintances after meeting in the group phase of the 2012 AFC Cup. The first meeting ended in a 1-1 draw at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon before current boss Therdsak scored the only goal of the game as the Thai side won the return fixture in Chonburi.
Japanese side FC Tokyo await either Chonburi or Yangon United in the February 9 playoffs while former AFC Champions League winners Pohang Steelers are the opposition for either Hanoi T&T or Kitchee who face off in the second preliminary round clash at the Hang Day Stadium in the Vietnamese capital.
Hanoi T&T take on Kitchee still smarting from finishing second best to Binh Duong once again after the 2015 V. League and Vietnam FA Cup runners-up lost 2-0 to the double-winners in Saturday's Super Cup.
On the same day Hanoi T&T yet again missed out on silverware to Binh Duong, recently-signed Spanish striker Rufino was scoring his first two league goals as Kitchee geared up for their ACL qualifier with a 3-0 win over South China, marking the 2014/15 Hong Kong treble winners second victory of 2016 after their 2-0 Hong Kong Premier League defeat of Pegasus was followed by a 2-0 reverse to Rangers in the inaugural edition of the HKFA Sapling Cup and a 1-1 draw with Dreams Metro Gallery FC in the league.
The qualifying phase for the 2016 AFC Champions League concludes with the Playoff Round on February 9, with teams from the West Zone entering the fray.
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