The 2012 Asian Champions League season is just on a month away and we are at the business end of the play-offs. These are the games coming up over the course of February that will determine the final places for the 2012 Group Stage.

10 February 2012 17:15
ESTEGHLAL (IRN) v ZOBAHAN (IRN) Azadi Stadium

18 February 2012 15:30
POHANG STEELERS (KOR) v CHONBURI FOOTBALL CLUB (THA) Pohang Steelyard

18 February 2012 20:00
AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) v NEFTCHI (UZB) Al Maktoum Stadium

18 February 2012
Winner ACL Play-off West W v AL ETTIFAQ (KSA)

The round of 16 games have been determined with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad winners of Group C to host Al Hilal on May 24 while 2008 champions Japan’s Gamba Osaka will meet Cerezo Osaka on the same day.

Japan and Saudi Arabia have four teams each in the knockout round Saudi Arabia – Al Ittihad, Al Hilal, Al Shabab and Al Nassr – and Japan – Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka, Kashima Antlers and Nagoya Grampus.

Korea will have three teams – FC Seoul, Suwon Bluewings and former winners Jeonbuk Motors – in the Round of 16 with the exception of Jeju United while Iran will be represented by Sepahan and Zob Ahan. China, Uzbekistan and Qatar will have one team each.

THE SCHEDULE

May 24

Sepahan (Iran) vs Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) vs Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Gamba Osaka (Japan) vs Cerezo Osaka (Japan)
Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic) vs Tianjin Teda (China)

May 25

Al Sadd (Qatar) vs Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)
Zob Ahan (Iran) vs Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
FC Seoul (Korea Republic) vs Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic) vs Nagoya Grampus (Japan)

Singapore Armed Forces coach Richard Bok was delighted with the performance of his players following the Warriors’ 3-0 win over Sriwijaya.

SAF eased to home win over the Indonesian side on Saturday to progress to the final qualifying play-off on February 6 as they attempt to joing the AFC competition for only their 2nd time.

Taisuke Akiyoshi scored for SAF in the seventh minute before Sriwijaya’s Christian Worabai was sent off two minutes after the hour mark.

SAF then quickly added a second when Federico Martinez converted a penalty and they scored a third – again from the penalty spot – through Indra Sahdan in the 89th minute.

The win rarely looked in doubt with SAF showing little signs of rustiness despite having not played a competitive match since October, but Bok believes his side are capable of playing even better.

“We certainly did well and the result is a morale booster which will give us a lot of confidence for the coming season,” he said.

Debutant Akiyoshi caught the eye throughout the encounter as he caused numerous problems for the visitors and Bok was pleased with the Japanese winger’s performance.

Mahmoud Khamis’ second-half strike was enough to claim a 1-0 win for Al Wahda against Syria league champions Al Karamah in their AFC Champions League play-off match at Khaled Ibn Al Waleed stadium on Saturday.

Khamis struck in the 72nd minute to ensure the UAE side will play India’s Churchill Brothers next week for the right to play in the group stage of the continental competition.

Al Wahda began as the stronger side and had a chance after just 1 minute when Fernando Baiano struck a powerful free kick forcing Mosab Balhous to deflect away for a corner.

Al Karamah fought hard under the early pressure and produced their first chance mid way through the first half when midfielder Aattef Jenniat saw his shot saved by Adel Al Hosani.

Towards the end of the first half the balance of play had swung in favour of the hosts and they maintained their dominance at the start of the second period, although failed to create any scoring chances with Kuwait international striker Fahad Al Rashidi struggling to impose himself in the game.

As Al Karamah pressed forward, Al Wahda opted to try and hit them on the counter attack and it was from one such move they took the lead in the 72nd minute when the dangerous Baiano played a quick pass to Khamis, who broke into the area before sending the ball over goalkeeper Balhous.

Stunned by the goal, Al Karamah tried in earnest to get back into the game and should have levelled the scores three minutes before the end when Alaa Al Shbli’s shot from just inside the area flew inches wide of the right upright.

Al Wahda came close to winning the game 2 mins later with a second goal when Mohamed Al Shehhi went on a driving run before hitting the crossbar.