Pohang are among a record four Korean clubs competing in
the quarterfinals, but one of three to lose in the first leg.
Pohang or Zobahan will face either Saudi champions
Al-Hilal or Qatar Stars League winners Al Gharafa in next month's semifinals.
Hilal visit the Doha club on Wednesday on the back of their impressive 3-0 win
in front of over 53,000 fans at the King Fahd International Stadium.
Seongnam Ilhwa, Korea Republic's most successful club
with seven K-League titles, were the country's sole winners after running out
4-1 winners over Gyeonggi rivals Suwon Bluewings, who will attempt a fightback
at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 AFC Champions League winners,
have a tough mission in Saudi Arabia where they face Al Shabab, who beat the
K-League champions 2-0 and could be one of two Riyadh clubs to make the final
four.
Seol Ki-hyeon will have a personal mission as Pohang host
Zobahan in front of what's expected to be a red-hot atmosphere at the Steelyard
Stadium.
The 31-year-old, who joined from Fulham in January,
missed this year's AFC Champions League group stage and the FIFA World Cup
following a knee operation in March, but is now focused on helping Pohang reach
the semifinals, where they could face his former club, Al Hilal.
"It was really disappointing to miss out on the
World Cup and, for a while, I found it difficult to accept the situation. I
came to the K-League because I really wanted to play in the World Cup, but now
I want to win the AFC Champions League with Pohang," Seol told
the-afc.com.
"The team are in good form and every one of us
really wants to help Pohang defend our AFC Champions League title.
Seol played against Zobahan as part of a three-man attack
with Brazilians Mota - who scored with a 20-yard strike - and Almir. He has
also played 10 K-League matches since making his debut on July 10, scoring five
goals and two assists.
"Although the knee operation went really well, I
haven't fully recovered and feel some pain after games," he said.
"However, my stamina is fine so I'm able to last a whole match." Pohang will be inspired by last year's
spectacular quarterfinal against Uzbek champions Bunyodkor, where they
overturned a 3-1 deficit by winning 4-1 in extra time in front of a fired-up crowd
at the Steelyard.
Other key players include attacking midfielder Kim
Jae-sung and fellow World Cup representative Kim Hyung-il, the imposing center
back who has been club captain since Hwang Jae-won signed for Suwon.
Like Pohang, Zobahan have not played following their
first leg, but remain top of the 2010-11 Iran Pro League as they try to improve
on runners-up finishes in the past two seasons.
The Greens will be boosted by the availability of Iran
striker Mohammad Khalatbari, suspended for the first leg. In his absence,
Brazilian Igor Castro seized his chance by scoring the opener and winning a
penalty for former Iran international Mahdi Rajabzadeh to convert.
Central midfielder Ghasem Hadadifar captained the side in
Mohammad Salsali's absence with Shaahin Kheiri in the holding role, but it's
the defense that will be under the greatest pressure in Pohang.
Farshid Talebi, who made his international debut last
year, partnered Mohammad Ahmadi in central defense before coming off injured
late in the game, with Salsali notably replacing him as he returns from injury.
Al Gharafa is another home team under pressure after
their 3-0 loss to Al-Hilal in the first leg.
The Doha club enjoyed a confidence boost on Sunday when
Brazilian hitman Clemerson and Iraq striker Younus Mahmood scored in their 2-0
win at Lekhwiya in their Qatar Star League opener.
Caio Junior's men, who won a third straight league crown
earlier this year, are captained by former Brazil star Juninho, but in last week's
first leg Hilal limited the 35-year-old midfielder to free-kick efforts.
Hilal could welcome back Christian Wilhelmsson to the
starting line-up after the Sweden winger missed the first leg through
suspension. Wilhelmsson and Hilal's Romania midfielder Mirel Radoi were both
recently involved in Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Former Brazil Olympic star Thiago Neves was the standout
player in the first leg as winger Mohammed Shalhoub, midfielder Ahmed Al Fraidi
and substitute Waleed Al Gizani - a new signing from Shabab - scored the goals.
Hilal have been consistently impressive under Belgian
great Eric Gerets, winning the 2009-10 Saudi league and Crown Prince Cup
earlier this year and kicking off this season's campaign with four straight
wins.
Suwon, winners of the Asian Club Championship in 2001 and
2002, will need to pull off a huge upset to overcome their disappointing defeat
at Seongnam in the tie that will ensure at least one K-League club reaches the
semi-finals.
Suwon remain seventh in the K-League after a 2-0 home
loss to Gyeongnam on Saturday, their third loss in eight days Jose Mota is the AFC Champions League's
leading scorer with nine goals but was subdued as a lone front man against
Seongnam, with most of Suwon's best attacks coming through World Cup winger
Yeom Ki-hun.
Kim Do-heon, who recently returned to the national team,
could be brought in after coming on as a substitute against Seongnam and
starting against Gyeongnam. Former Japan striker Naohiro Takahara also started
on Saturday after Yoon Sung-hyo left him on the bench against Seongnam.
Seongnam are fourth in the K-League after losing 1-0 to
leaders Jeju United at home on Saturday, but Shin Tae-yong's men will be
confident of protecting their advantage in Suwon.
Towering Montenegrin target man Dzenan Radoncic bagged a
brace against Suwon, while former Colombia international Mauricio Molina scored
his fifth goal of this year's tournament.
Captain Sasa Ognenovski and Cho Byung-kuk form a solid
center-back partnership in front of Korea Republic number one Jung Sung-ryong,
who could all be key figures in keeping Suwon at bay.
Al-Shabab will hope to secure their place in the semis
when they host Jeonbuk Motors, who will need to overcome both a two-goal
deficit and a large crowd at the imposing King Fahd International Stadium.
Captain Ahmed Ateef was one of several Shabab players to
impress in the first leg and the Saudi Arabia midfielder's performance was
capped by a superb long pass for a late goal by substitute Juan Manuel Olivera.
The clinical finish by the 1.91-meter Uruguayan striker
showed that fans of the 'White Lions' can expect a lot more from the new
signing, who helped Universidad de Chile reach the semi-finals of this year's
Copa Libertadores.
Jeonbuk's loss to Shabab was their sixth loss in eight
games in all competitions, a surprising slump following nine straight
victories.
However, the Motors remain a fierce attacking threat on
their day and Korean legend Lee Dong-gook, the K-League's top scorer last year,
will be keen to make up for his close-range misses last week.
Forward options include the 1.95-meter Sim Woo-yeon and
Kruno Lovrek, the former Croatia U-23 international who replaced Sim in the
second half against Shabab.
Brazilian winger Eninho is also in a rich vein of form
and currently the K-League's second top scorer with 13 goals. Right-back Jin
Kyiung-sun is also available after missing the first leg through suspension.
Al Gharafa
(QAT) v Al Hilal (KSA), Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha (18:30)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) v Zobahan (IRN), Steelyard Stadium,
Pohang (19:30)
Al Shabab (KSA) v Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), King Fahd
International Stadium, Riyadh (20:15)
Suwon Bluewings (KOR) v Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR), Suwon World
Cup Stadium, Suwon (19:30)
