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AFC Champions League 2007: Aussie debutants face baptism of fire

/noticias.info/ Their national team might have taken Asia by storm in becoming the first team to qualify for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, but Australia's representatives' prospects of making waves at the continent's club showpiece look considerably less assured.

Sydney FC and Adelaide United were, after all, today handed tough assignments at the AFC Champions League draw in Kuala Lumpur: the former against Japanese double-winners Urawa Reds, Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua and Indonesian league champions Persik Kediri, and the latter against Dong Tam Long An of Vietnam, Korea Republic outfit Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and China's Shandong Luneng.

Although next year's tournament will kick off without two-time winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, who failed to secure a place at the fifth edition, the draw saw 28 of the continent's familiar heavyweights divided into seven groups. The group stage will take place from 7 March to 23 May, with the top team from each section advancing to the quarter-finals, where defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea are waiting with a bye.

The last four will then play on 3 and 24 October, with the two-legged Final scheduled for 7 and 14 November.

Group A: Too close to call
The first group could also looks to be the most difficult to predict, with no big favorites and all four teams well capable of qualifying for the second stage. Kuwaiti Cup winners Al Arabi can draw inspiration from Al Qadisiya, their fellow countrymen who stormed into the last four in the previous edition, while UAE league runners-up Al Wahda will be confident of impressing in this, their third AFC Champions League campaign. Iraqi league champions Al Zawra'a and Al Rayyan of Qatar are by no means there merely to make up the numbers and could well spring a surprise.

Group B: Fifth time lucky for Pakhtakor?
Having played in all the previous four editions of the Champions League, Uzbekistan double-winners Pakhtakor, which translates as Cotton-pickers, are the obvious stand-out in Group B. Although they have yet to pick up any continental laurels, they have demonstrated tremendous potential by coming within a whisker of reaching the final in 2003 and 2004, on both occasions bowing out only after heart-breaking semi-finals defeats. Nevertheless, the Central Asians will have their work cut out to progress from arguably the toughest group of all alongside Saudi Crown Prince Cup holders Al Hilal, Iranian champions Esteghlal and Kuwait's top side, Al Kuwait.
An image that came to symbolise Al Karama's run to the 2006 final: a young fan getting caught up in the emotion and joy of victories over the continent's big boys.
An image that came to symbolise Al Karama's run to the 2006 final: a young fan getting caught up in the emotion and joy of victories over the continent's big boys.
Group C: Another Al Karama fairy tale?
After witnessing Al Karama's shock run to the final this year, who would argue against the Syrians' chances of spring another surprise next year? Their hopes of a repeat have certainly been boosted by a draw which has placed them in one of the less formidable groups, alongside with Uzbekistan league runners-up Neftchi, Qatari champions Al Sadd and Iraqi runners-up Al Najaf.

Group D: All eyes on Al Ain
The inaugural winners and the only team to have reached the knockout stage in each of the past four editions, Al Ain will once again be among the favourites, but the UAE outfit will first need to survive numerous potential banana-skins in a tricky Group D. Iran's Hafzi Cup holders Sepahan will be no pushovers, and Saudi league champions Al Shabab and Syrians Al Ittihad both come into the competition with impressive pedigree at the top level.

Group E: Sydney to struggle?
Being pitted against two eastern Asian giants and the Indonesian champions was not the kind of introduction Sydney FC were hoping for. It is for good reason that the reputation of Japanese double-winners Urawa Reds and Chinese runners-up Shanghai Shenhua extends far beyond their national borders, while Persik Kediri are an up-and-coming club of which the Aussies should be very wary.

Group F: Eastern expectation
If the tournament's history has taught us anything, it is that the Eastern Asian sides have tended to prove too strong for their Southeastern opponents, whose last and only appearance in the knockout stage came in the inaugural edition, when BEC Tero of Thailand reached the final. Thus, most will expect supremacy in Group F to be fought over by Korean FA Cup winners Chunnam Dragons and J.League runners-up Kawasaki Frontale. Thai champions Bangkok University and Indonesian cup holders Arema Malang are the teams hoping to buck the trend.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma have been crowned the K-League champions for the seventh time after a 2-1 victory over Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the second leg of the Championship play-off final.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma have been crowned the K-League champions for the seventh time after a 2-1 victory over Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the second leg of the Championship play-off final.
afcchampionsleague.com
Group G: Seongnam look to shine
Having gone so close in 2004, where they entered into the final return leg with an 3-1 away victory only to crumble 5-0 at home to Al Ittihad, Korean league champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma are intent on banishing that memory by claiming the coveted continental title.

However, they will need to call on all their tactical nous, fighting spirit, and an extra ounce of luck emerge from a group that also features ambitious Australian outfit Adelaide United - currently boasting Romario in their ranks - along with Chinese double-winners Shandong Luneng and Vietnamese champions Dong Tam Long.

AFC Champions League 2007 groups:

Group A
Al Arabi (Kuwait)
Al Wahda (UAE)
Al Rayyan (Qatar)
Al Zawra'a (Iraq)

Group B
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
Al Kuwait (Kuwait)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Esteghlal (Iran)

Group C
Al Karama (Syria)
Neftchi (Uzbekistan)
Al Najaf (Iraq)
Al Sadd (Qatar)

Group D
Al Ain (UAE)
Al Ittihad (Syria)
Sepahan (Iran)
Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)

Group E
Urawa Reds (Japan)
Sydney FC (Australia)
Shanghai Shenhua (China)
Persik Kediri (Indonesia)

Group F
Bangkok University (Thailand)
Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
Arema Malang (Indonesia)
Chunnam Dragons (Korea Republic)

Group G
Adelaide United (Australia)
Dong Tam Long An (Vietnam)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (Korea Republic)
Shandong Luneng (China) notas_de_prensa_archivo