JEDDAH, 7 May 2008 — Two-time champions Al-Ittihad hope to keep the momentum of their strong showing in the King’s Cup for Champions when they play Uzbeki side Kuruvchi in Tashkent in a crucial Group A match today in the AFC Champions League.
Today’s program featuring two games in each of the seven groups is the penultimate group games of Asia’s premier club tournament.
Another Saudi side, Al-Ahli, is also in action though the match at home against Al-Sadd of Qatar is a meaningless one as both teams already exited the competition. Ahli bring up the rear in Group C with only 2 points from two draws and two defeats. Al-Sadd are third of the group with four points from one win, one draw and two defeats. Ittihad enter the match fresh off a 4-1 victory over Al-Hilal in the first leg semifinal in the King’s Cup, and this crushing win bodes well for the Jeddah side trying to advance into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
For Ittihad to stay in the hunt for the quarterfinals they must beat Kuruvchi. Another team competing with Ittihad for a spot in the final eight, Iran’s Sepahan, are under pressure to beat Syria’s Al-Ittihad Allepo.
Ittihad are third of the group with 6 points and Kuruvchi first with 9 points.
Elsewhere, Japan’s Gamba Osaka Gamba travel to Thailand with a point in their Group E clash against Chonburi enough to put them in the knockout rounds alongside defending champions and fellow Japanese powerhouse Urawa Reds.
The J-League side have put themselves in the driving seat with two hard-fought wins over Melbourne Victory, and coach Akira Nishino is full of praise for his players.
“We have won because our players have played with a determination to get three points,” he said.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, Chonburi, with five points to Gamba’s 10, are not giving up hope that they can cause an upset and keep their campaign alive.
“We still hope to qualify for the quarterfinals,” said Jadeet Meelarp, coach of the Thai champions. “But Gamba Osaka must also lose a match in the next two games.” Melbourne play South Korean strugglers Chunnam Dragons in the group’s other game.
Syrian champions Al Karama can join Urawa if they beat or draw with Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates in Group C. Kuwaiti giants Al-Qadisia also have the last eight in their sights with victory over Uzbek champions Pakhtakor in Group D ensuring they make the business end of the tournament.
The other Group D teams, Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Iraq’s Arbil, play an inconsequential match with neither side having any hope of progressing.
In Group E, Adelaide United can become the first Australian side to make the knockout rounds if they beat Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai fail to take all three points in Vietnam off Binh Duong.
Group F looks like going to the wire with Japan’s Kashima Antlers expected to beat Thailand’s Krung Thai Bank on home soil and Beijing Guoan favorites to win against Vietnam’s Nam Dinh.
Both the Antlers and Guoan currently have 9 points, although the J-League champions have a superior goal difference which could be crucial when it comes to the crunch.
Iranian Pro-League pacesetters Saipa have the upper hand in Group B and will be looking for all three points against Kuwait FC.
In the other group match, Iraq’s Al Quwa Al Jawiya take on Al Wasl Sports Club of the UAE. — With input from Agence France Presse
