TOKYO, 29 May 2004 — Holders Al Ain have been handed a tricky Asian Champions League quarterfinal after the United Arab Emirates side were drawn against South Korea’s Chonbuk Motors in Tokyo yesterday.
Al Ain, managed by Frenchman Bruno Metsu, qualified automatically for the last eight — to be played over two legs in September — after winning the inaugural competition last year.
Chinese club Dalian Shide play Al-Ittihad of Jeddah in the same half of the draw with the added incentive of having lost out to Al Ain at the semifinal stage in 2003. Dalian are now under the command of striker Hao Haidong after talks with manager Milorad Kosanovic over a new contract broke down earlier this week.
Al Ain and Dalian play their home ties on Sept. 14, with the return games on Sept. 21.
Meanwhile, South Korean champions Seongnam Ilhwa, who edged out Japan’s Yokohama F-Marinos to win Group G, have been drawn against Emirates club, Sharjah. Al Wahda, the UAE’s third representative in the quarterfinals, take on Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan. Both ties take place on Sept. 15 and 22.
