Seongnam, Urawa into quarterfinals
SINGAPORE: South Korea's Seongnam Chunma upset China's Shandong Luneng to seal an AFC Champions League quarter-final place Wednesday alongside Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, who ended Sydney FC's hopes.
Seongnam needed to win by two clear goals in the final game of the group stages of Asia's top club competition, and made no mistake in a comfortable 3-0 victory.
In Saitama, Urawa ground out a 0-0 draw against Sydney which was enough to book their passage and join another Japanese side, Kawasaki Frontale, in the last eight. It is the first time any Japanese clubs have progressed this far.
Also in the knockouts are Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, United Arab Emirates' Al Wahda and Korean defending champions Jeonbuk Motors.
The final two slots were decided later on Wednesday. Iyad Mando scored in each half to put last season's finalists Al Karama of Syria into the quarter-finals from Group C with a 2-0 victory over Neftchi of Uzbekistan.
And Iran's Sepahan beat Saudi side Al Shabab 1-0 thanks to a goal from Seyed Mohamad Salehi to earn their last eight berth from Group D.
Seven-time K-League champions Seongnam are in fine fettle, having not lost in 18 league games to sit six points clear at the top of the domestic table.
They brought that form into the Champions League with first-half goals by Kim Dong-hun and Son Dae-ho and a sensational Mota strike 18 minutes from time helping them get the result they wanted.
The two teams finished level on 13 points at the top of Group G but Seongnam's better record in the head-to-head meetings between the two sides saw the 2004 runners-up advance.
Urawa picked up the point they needed to progress with an unbeaten record in a dour draw at Saitama Stadium. It allowed the J-League champions to finish two points clear of the Australians at the top of Group E.
Holger Osieck's side rarely looked like losing with Sydney failing to put the Reds' defence under significant pressure.
Both sides had chances with Urawa going close to sealing all three points in injury time when Washington had a strike from just inside the area, but the Brazilian's effort was just wide of the target.
AFP
(China Daily 05/25/2007 page23)
