Mouthwatering ACL Ties On Tuesday

By YC on Tuesday, 30th March 2010

The AFC Champions League resumes on Tuesday as a host of mouthwatering ties will be played amongst the best teams in the region. Highlights should include the match-ups between Al Ahli of Dubai hosting Al Hilal, FC Bunyodkor against Zobahan and China Super League side Changchun Yatai hoping to keep their hopes alive against Jeonbuk Motors.

Former Belgium stalwart Eric Gerets is now in charge of Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia and the giants will be out for all three points against their UAE opponents. Al Hilal missed a host of chances as they could only draw against Al Ahli and now have the difficult task of traveling to Dubai for a win.

“If we play against Al Ahli 10 times, we would surely win, but it seems my players were not lucky enough,” the Belgian told the press. “Beside misfortune, what really affected us was the slow performance.”

Changchun Yatai are still nursing the loss they suffered at Jeonbuk Motors. The result put their qualifying hopes at risk and now the Chinese club needs nothing less than a win which would bring them level with the K League champions. Yatai could not find a way through the Koreans but hope for better luck at home, with a sizable home crowd behind them.

The AFC Champions League has seen much attacking play from most teams and one of the best purveyors have been FC Bunyodkor from Uzbekistan. Ex-Brazil coach Felipe Scolari helms the side and after last season’s disappointment of exiting at the semi final stage, the Uzbek champions are determined to go all the way this year.

FC Bunyodkor were surprisingly beaten 3-0 by Zobahan last week but Scolari expects the result to be very different this time. A win would also be crucial as the result would see them move past Zobahan to the top of Group B.

ACL Games on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 (Including local kick-off times)

Group B

Bunyodkor (UZB) v Zobahan (IRN), Jar Stadium, Tashkent (17:00)

Al Ittihad (KSA) v Al Wahda (UAE), Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah (20:45)

Group D

Mes Kerman (IRN) v Al Sadd (QAT), Shahid Bahonar Stadium, Kerman (18:00)

Al Ahli (UAE) v Al Hilal (KSA), Al Rashid Stadium, Dubai (19:25)

Group F

Persipura Jayapura (IDN) v Kashima Antlers (JPN), Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta (16:00)

Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) v Changchun Yatai (CHN), Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju (19:00)

Group H

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) v Adelaide United (AUS), Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima (19:00)