For the first time since Australia’s move into Asia, we have three teams representing us on the continental stage: Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United

With Adelaide being the only Australian team to have made an impact in this tournament, many will be interested to see how the A-League’s best teams from the 2010-11 season stack up against the competition.

Group E sees Adelaide along with Gamba Osaka of Japan, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and either the Pohang Steelers of South Korea or Chonburi of Thiland.

This provides a re-match of both the 2008 Champions League Final and a game from the FIFA Club World Cup later that year between Adelaide and Gamba, with Gamba winning the two legged final as well as their later meeting.

Gamba managed to finish third in the league in the most recent season, as well as reching the round of 16 of the champions league, which included a win and a draw against Melbourne Victory.

Bunyodkor are an anomaly to be competing in this group, with the Uzbekistan teams normally participating in the western part of the draw. They won the Uzbek League last season, and were also semi-finalists of the 2008 Champions League when they were knocked out by… wait for it, Adelaide in the semi-final three goals to one.

The two other sides that may fill the last spot (Chonburri and Pohang) are also well known to Australian audiences. If Pohang make it through, it will mean that all three of the teams in the group came up against Adelaide in the 2008 edition, with United recording twin victories at home and away to finish top of the group. The Steelers finished third in the 2011 K-League, and did not participate in the Champions League.

Chonburri finished second in their 2011 domestic season. Whilst they have a great domestic record, they really haven’t been able to compete with the best in Asia to date. Coming up with Pohang will certainly be a test for them.

Favourites for the this group are Gamba Osaka and Bunyodkor. Adelaide may pull some surprises but they haven’t been able to earn the wins they have required domestically this season.

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)

FC Tokyo qualified for the 2012 AFC Champions League after coming back from a goal down to beat Kyoto Sanga 4-2 to win the Emperor’s Cup on Sunday.

The final of the prestigious tournament, opened to Japan’s professional and amateur leagues, featured two clubs from the J.League second division for the first time.

FC Tokyo won the 2011 second division title to return to the top flight next season, while Kyoto finished in seventh place to miss promotion.

FC Tokyo’s first ever Emperor’s Cup triumph sees them join Kashiwa Reysol, Nagoya Grampus and Gamba Osaka in Asia’s premier club competition.

Only two minutes after Kyoto skipper Hiroki Nakayama opened the scoring in the 13th minute, Naohiro Ishikawa sent a cross after exchanging short passes from the left corner, allowing Yasuyuki Konno to head home an equaliser.

In the 36th minute, Ishikawa sent another short pass from a free kick and Masato Morishige netted a sizzling long-range shot.

Brazilian striker Lucas added two more, while Yuya Kubo managed to pull one back for Kyoto.

FC Tokyo will slot into Group F of the 2012 AFC Champions League and will begin their continental campaign against Brisbane Roar in Australia on March 6.

The draw for the Group Stage of the 2012 AFC Champions League took place at AFC House on Tuesday, with Asia’s premier club tournament set to set new standards next year thanks to a boost in prize money and a burgeoning interest from fans and media.

AFC Champions League 2012 – Group Stage
Group A

A1. Al Rayyan (QAT)

A2. Al Jazira (UAE)

A3. Nasaf (UZB)

A4. ACL Playoff West: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

Group B
B1. Al Ittihad (KSA)

B2. Al Arabi (QAT)

B3. Baniyas (UAE)

B4. Pakhtakor (UZB)

Group C
C1. Sepahan (IRN)

C2. Al Ahli (KSA)

C3. Lekhwiya (QAT)

C4. Al Nasr (UAE)

Group D
D1. ACL Playoff West: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

D2. Piroozi (IRN)

D3. Al Hilal (KSA)

D4. Al Gharafa (QAT)

Group E
E1. Gamba Osaka (JPN)

E2. ACL Playoff East: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

E3. Bunyodkor (UZB)

E4. ACL Playoff East: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

Group F
F1. Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

F2. Emperor’s Cup winner (JPN)

F3. Brisbane Roar (AUS)

F4. Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Group G
G1. Tianjin Teda (CHN)

G2. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)

G3. Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

G4. Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Group H
H1. League champions (THA)

H2. Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)

H3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

H4. Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

AFC Champions League 2012 – Playoffs

East Zone – 18/02/12

Pohang Steelers (KOR) v FA Cup winners (THA)

West Zone – 11/02/12 – Round 1

Esteghlal (IRN) v Zob Ahan (IRN)

18/02/12 – Round 2

Al Shabab (UAE) v Neftchi (UZB)

Round 1 winner (TBC) v Al Ettifaq (KSA)

Nadir Belhadj converted the winning penalty as Al Sadd lifted the 2011 AFC Champions League trophy following a dramatic final with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Korea.

The final was played in front of over 41,000 spectators in Korea with Al Sadd scoring a victory only after extra time was over and penalties where the deciding factor.

Jeonbuk had the first attempt to get into the lead just minutes into the game when Eninho sent through a dipping shot from over 30 meters out only to be stopped by man of the match keeper and Al Sadd keeper, Saqr.

Mamadou Niang also fired a powerful shot in a few minutes later.

With 17 minutes played, Jeonbuk took the lead when Eninho was brought down just outside the box. Eninho took the free kick himself and fired home a brilliant opener into the far side of Saqr’s net.

It didn’t however take Al Sadd to level the game. Al Sadd’s Keita flighted a cross towards Khalfan Ibrahim on the edge of the six-yard box and as the midfielder jumped with Sim, the defender flicked the ball past Kim Min-sik in the Jeonbuk goal leveling the final.

Eninho came close to getting Jeonbuk the lead again in the 57th minute. Having already scored enterprising goals from corners in previous encounters he tried the set piece again but Saqr managed to tip the cross against the bar.

Against the run of play, Al Sadd then took the lead in the 63rd minute when a low cross from the left picked out Keita and the striker showed great ball control to fire the shot into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

The Qatari’s then tried to slow the game down with many unsportsman like antics which began to sour the game. Jeonbuk however never lost site of the goal and came agonisingly close soon after. Kim Dong-chan met Eninho’s in-swinging corner with a header that came back off the far post and the midfielder’s subsequent overhead kick was cleared off the line before Jeong blazed over from inside the area.

Jeonbuk then made some changes bringing in fresh legs. Lee Dong-gook replaced Luiz Henrique.

Kim Dong-chan pulled a low shot wide of Saqr’s goal with 10 minutes remaining before the Al Sadd keeper did brilliantly to push Jeong’s low drive from 12 yards through a crowd of players onto the post with three minutes to go.

It was do or die as the minutes ticked away. Jeonbuk pushed many players forward searching for the equaliser. Eninho’s corner from the right in the final minutes of regular time was headed in from close range at the back post by substitute Lee Sung-hyun as the stadium erupted and the game went into extra time.

Lee Dong-gook was presented with many opportunities to win the game for Jeonbuk which in any other game he would have normally taken. In the 101st minute he wasted a great opportunity with a miskick unmarked in front of goal.

Jeong headed Eninho’s cross off target two minutes into the second period of extra time before Saqr denied him with a fantastic save with seven minutes to go. Saqr was Al Sadd’s saviour and best player by far.

Jeobuk control the extra time period but even the woodwork was on the side of Al Sadd. An Eninho corner hit an Al Sadd defender but bounced off the base of the post.

Afif was sent off in the dieing stage of the second half (he deserved to be sent off earlier for an elbow), but Al Sadd held on for penalties.

After the first three spot-kicks all found the back of the net, Kim Dong-chan blasted straight at Saqr before Lee Jang-soo calmly strode up but sidefooted his penalty against the underside of the bar.

Saqr denied Park, Ibrahim Majed blasted into the corner and Kim Sang-sik scored before Belhadj displayed fine composure to fire home the winning penalty.

Congratulations to Al Sadd for winning the 2011 AFC Asian Champions League.

After leading 2 – 1 in the second half of regular time, Jeonbuk equalised with minutes remaining. Extra time was dominated by Jeonbuk who had many chances including hits to the woodwork. However Al Sadd keeper played a great final and was outstanding during the penalty shout out which Al Sadd won 4 – 2.

Congratulations Al Sadd once again.

Beginning in late February and ending in early November every year the Asian Champions League is fast becoming a premier event for every country associated with the Asian Confederation. Not only are the games becoming more and more competitive each year, but the standard of play and what is at stake is also fast improving.

Each year all teams enter the competition with high expectation and each year we are left with two teams in the final to battle it out for naming honours. This year, we have a Korean team (Korea has been dominating this tournament of late) and a Qatari team. Last year it was SEONGNAM ILHWA FC (KOR) v ZOBAHAN (IRN) with SEONGNAM ILHWA winning the tournament in a very close encounter.

With the final in Korea (home advantage) only days away, let’s take a look at how each of the teams arrived and what we can expect in the final game of the 2011 Asian Champions League season.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Jeonbuk entered the tournament in Group G facing the likes of Cerezo from Japan, Shandong from China and Arema from Indonesia. With 15 points from a possible 18, Jeonbuk topped the group winning 5 out of their 6 games, scoring 12 and letting in 2 goals. The group wasn’t all one way though with Cerezo in a close second position with 12 points and 4 wins.

In the round of 16, Jeonbuk met with Tianjin Teda (China) and comfortably won 3 – 0 at home to progress to the Quarter Final where they met Cerezo Osaka again. Cerezo had been the only team to beat them in the group stages, so a close game was expected. They didn’t disappoint. The first leg in Japan ended 4 – 3 in favour of Cerezo, the second and return leg was quite a different story. Jeonbuk thrashed their opponents 6 – 1 to enter the semi finals.

In the semi finals they met Saudi heavy weights Al Ittihad. The first leg of the Asian Champions League semi finals was held at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. The game ended 2 – 3 in favour of Jeonbuk. A week later the return leg confirmed Jeonbuk as worthy finalists with a 2 – 1 home victory.

Domestically Jeonbuk have topped their group for the 2011 season with 63 points, 4 clear or second place Pohang Steelers. Jeonbuk is in fine form this year both domestically and in the continental tournament. Playing home they will hold all of the cards and are firm favourites to win the 2011 tournament.

Al Sadd
Al Sadd entered the group stage in Group B in what was a very tough and tight group. Al Sadd only managed 2 wins out of the 6 games. They did however draw the other 4 games and top their group with 10 points. Other group members where AL NASSR (KSA), ESTEGHLAL (IRN) and PAKHTAKOR (UZB). There was only 2 points difference between first and third.

In the round of 16, Al Sadd faced Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) and playing at home won their knockout game 1 – 0 to progress to the Quarter Finals.

Into the quarter finals they went to face Iranian heavyweights Sepahan. Although over two legs Sepahan won the right to advance to the semi finals, Al Sadd were granted a 3 – 0 win in the first leg as a result of Sepahan fielding an unregistered player. The 2 – 1 loss at home in the second leg didn’t make any difference.

Al Sadd were through to the Semi Finals of the 2011 Asian Champions League and were lined up to face Koreas Suwon Samsung Bluewings. The first leg ended quite controversially with a win to Al Sadd of 2 – 0 (away). Suwon complained of bad sportsmanship but the result stands. The second leg saw Suwon dominate but not achieve the goals it needed to overturn the result. A 0 – 1 win to Suwon wasn’t enough to take the game to extra time. Al Sadd progressed to the final of the 2011 Asian Champions League.

Domestically Al Sadd is sitting second however the season is only a few games old so the team is relatively fresh.

Based on results so far Jeonbuk is the favourite by far. Korean teams have always performed well in the Asian Champions League and with a home final and the support of their fans, I would expect them to dominate the game. Al Sadd coach Forsati however is an old cat and knows enough about the game to bring the best out of his team when he needs to.

I don’t see many goals in the final but I do see enough for an outright result. I am predicting 2 – 0 or 2 – 1 to Jeonbuk.

Al Sadd have made it to the Final of the Asian Champions League and will now face Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for the 2011 title. Al Sadd overcame Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1 on aggregate.

After a very fiery first round, Suwon came out swinging in the second round and put themselves back into the game with a 6th minute goal. They however were unable to capitalise on their fantastic start with Al Sadd content to nullify any Suwon threat in a game of few chances.

Suwon where up 1 – 0 early in the game following a corner which was not cleared correctly. Yeom Ki-hun’s corner from the right was headed clear only as far as Oh and the striker showed fine technique to control the ball with his chest before volleying into the back of the net.

Suwon needed a second the tie the game and pressed forward again. A well-worked move ended with Oh seeing his shot deflected wide in the 24th minute.

Al Sadd almost equalised against the run of play. Only a fabulous save from Jung Sung-ryong prevented them.

That seemed to spark Al Sadd into life and led by the impressive Ibrahim, the hosts looked the more threatening up until the interval although they were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

The second-half had Al Saad playing a very defensive strategy, determined not to lose the lead., however Suwon where not able to break them down and grab a second.

Their best chance came just before the hour mark. Lee Yong-rae swung in a cross from the right that picked out Neretljak on the far side of the six-yard box but the defender directed his header disappointingly wide of the back post.

There several other chances but none of them really looked threatening enough. Al Sadd now progress to the final.

A two one victory for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors sees them reach the Final of the 2011 AFC Champions League

Jeonbuk came into the second leg leading 3-2, Eninho built on Jeonbuk’s advantage when he made it 4 – 2 on aggregate midway through the first-half. The Brazilian then put it beyond reach with a great goal direct from a corner before fellow Brazilian Wendel pulled one back for Al Ittihad with 20 minutes to go.

Following a slow start for both teams, the game quickly came to life in the 11th minute when Hazazi (scorer of two goals in the first leg) was sent off for head butting the Jeonbuk captain.

Jeonbuk made the most of their extra man on the park when Jeong Sung-hoon headed the ball towards Eninho, who wriggled past Osama Al Harbi and then held off the Saudi defender to advance into the area and fire a low shot past keeper Mabrouk Zaid.

Jeonbuk almost made it 2 – 0 when Jung Hoon looped a volley from a cleared corner. The shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the post. Jeong fired the rebound goalwards but his shot was deflected by a desperate diving block.

Eninho then made sure of the game with some pure magic 9 minutes before the break when he Brazilian curled a corner from the left into the top near corner of the Al Ittihad net despite the best efforts of Zaid and Mishal Al Saeed at the near post.

A Ittihad where not done yet though. They started the 2nd half strongly and Jorge exchanged passes with Noor on the edge of the area but shot straight at the goalkeeper.

With 17 minutes to go, Noor’s brilliant pass split the Jeonbuk defence and Wendel swept home from close range to raise Al Ittihad hopes of an unlikely comeback but Jeonbuk held on for the win despite seeing substitute Lovrek dismissed for a second bookable offence late in the game.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Al Ittihad: AFC Champions League 2011 (Semi Final 2nd Leg)

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors took the upper hand in the 2011 AFC Champions League semi-final with Al Ittihad.

Jeonbuk made a fantastic start when they took the lead with only a minute played.

Eninho drilled a corner from the left low towards the near post that took a deflection before hitting the back of the net.

Four minutes later, Hazazi climbed between two defenders and headed Sultan Al Numare’s cross beating keeper Kim Min-sik.

Al Ittihad then took the lead for the first time in the match when Jeonbuk failed to deal with forward run and Hazazi used his strength to outmuscle Cho on the edge of the area before chesting the ball down and rifling it into the back of the net with his left foot.

Jeonbuk came back from the break with confidence and leveled the game after 20 minutes of play. Al Ittihad made a mess of clearing the ball from the box and Park Won-jae managed to take control, laying the ball back to Son, who smashed a powerful finish past Zaid.

Jeonbuk then took the lead with only 13 minutes to go when Cho peeled away from his marker and met Eninho’s corner with a powerful downward header, although Zaid may feel he could have done better.

Mamadou Niang scored two second have goals which have taken Al Sadd close to reaching the final of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

The game effectively turned on at the 13th minute mark 13 minutes when Yang Sung-min’s long-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr.

Sown through Lee Sang-ho then came close to giving Suwon the lead. The Al Sadd defence failed to deal with a Ristic’s cross from the right and allowed the ball to bounce through to Lee Sang-ho who shot just wide..

Al Saad have been compacted up until that point but had nothing really going forward. Then Khalfan Ibrahim touched the ball back to Keita 25 yards from goal and the Ivory Coast star unleashed a power drive hitting the cross bar.

Al Sadd again went close after 25 minutes. Keita fed Niang on the edge of a crowded area and he skipped past Mato Neretljak but stabbed his shot agonisingly wide of the post.

Suwon also began firing through some long range shots. Minutes before the break, Park Jung-jin’s shot from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off the back of Al Sadd’s Korea Republic international Lee Jung-soo and smacked the bar.

Suwon began the second-half wher they left the first, full in intention to take the lead first. Yeom saw a long-range effort batted away by Saqr on the hour and shortly after, his corner found Neretljak virtually unmarked at the far post.

Against the run of play however, Al Sadd took the lead by scoring with 20 minutes remaining. The Qataris broke down the Suwon left, Niang cut inside just outside the area and his shot took a huge deflection off Ibrahim’s chest to deceive the wrong-footed Jung.

Ten minutes later, Al Sadd made it two (controversially) and almost guarantees As Sadd a spot in the final. Following Choi’s injury, Keita knocked the ball forward to an unmarked Niang. Suwon were standing waiting for the ball to be returned. The striker did not hesitate, though, and took the ball round Jung before firing into the net.

That sparked unsavoury scenes after which Keita and Ristic were both dismissed, while Niang petulantly got himself sent-off in stoppage time for kicking the ball away, meaning Al Sadd will have to defend their advantage next week without their suspended strike duo.

LIVE! – Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors V Al Sadd 2 – 2 (120′ FT)
Penalties: 2 – 4

Al Sadd 2011 AFC Champions League Champions

Yes, it is finally here. The 2011 AFC Asian Champions League Final will be played this Saturday evening 5 November 2011 in Korea, between the two best teams this season in Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Al Sadd. The game kicks off 7pm Korean time.

JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) V AL SADD (QAT) (9PM AEST)

Round Two (Return Leg)

FT – Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic) v Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) (2 – 1) (5 – 3 Aggregate)
FT – Al Sadd (Qatar) v Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic) (0 – 1) (2 – 1 Aggregate)
Round One of the AFC Semi Finals
Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic) v Al Sadd (Qatar) (0 – 2) (FT)
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) v Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic) (2 – 3) (FT)

A Mato Neretljak’s penalty in the first-half of extra time fired Suwon Samsung Bluewings into the semi-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League with a 2-1 victory at Zob Ahan.

The second round match began with both sides locked at 1-1. If it had stayed this way, Suwon would have been happy enough, however Zobahan were playing at home and earned the first goal when when Mohammad Ghazi volleyed passed the keeper after 50 minutes.

The game went to 1 -1 fourteen minutes from time with Yang Sang-min’s header. It then went 2 – 1 when Mohammad Ahmadi pulled Stevica Ristic over in the box, collecting a second yellow card in the process. Neretljak confidently smashed the spot kick into the bottom corner to send Suwon through 3-2 on aggregate.

Zob Ahan had the first real attempt on goal in the ninth minute when Esmaeil Farhadi fired over from outside the box while Ghazi created an opening in the 26th minute when he drove at the visiting defence but sliced well wide from the edge of the area.

Ghazi missed a great opportunity to put Zob Ahan in front just before half time when Hugo Machado swung in a free-kick from the right but the forward glanced a free header the wrong side of the far post.

Ghazi made up for that miss just after the restart when he gave Zob Ahan the first goal of the match and the lead. Machado’s flick-on was controlled by Igor Castro for Ghazi to volley first-time into the bottom corner from outside the box.

Suwon had a chance to reply two minutes later when Lee Sang-ho’s pass released Oh Jang-eun but with Gordan charging out of his goal, the midfielder skewed his shot high and wide.

Suwon then made it 1 – 1 with a quarter on a hour to go in the game. Yeom Ki-hun directed a ball towards the far post and Yang rose above the Zob Ahan defence to head home.

Zob Ahan then suffered some bad luck when Ahmadi was booked for flattening Lee and from Yeom’s resulting free-kick, pulled Ristic down in the box to concede a penalty and get himself sent-off. Neretljak stepped up and powered the spot-kick to Gordan’s left and into the bottom corner.

Al Sadd fought of a determined Sepahan to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League 2011. The 2:1 loss means that on aggregate Al Sadd progress 4:2.

Although Sepahan won the first leg of the quarter-final 1-0 they were penalised with a 3 – 0 loss after it was discovered that they fielded an ineligible player .

In a lively start to the contest, Nadir Belhadj saw a close-range shot deflected behind by a Sepahan defender before the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute when Mohammed took a stunning shot which flew past Al Sadd keeper Mohammed Saqr and into the back of the net.

Jafari doubled Sepahan’s advantage quarter of an hour later when he collected a loose ball just outside the area and fired past Saqr.

Belhadj weaved his way past two Sepahan defenders just after the half-hour mark but team-mate Abdul Kader Keita was slow to react to his pass with only goalkeeper Reza Mohammadi to beat.

Naseer Nabeel almost made it 3 – 0 just before the break. Then in the 58th minute Wesam Rizik spurned an opportunity when he won possession from the Sepahan goalkeeper but sliced his finish into the side netting.

Al Sadd coach Jorge Fossati made some inportant changes with the introduction of Hasan Al Haydos for Khalfan Ibrahim. Hasan made an immediate impact when he twice fed Keita with superb balls only to see the tall striker fire straight at Mohammadi on both occasions.

Al Sadd however eventually landed the goal they needed to extinguish all hope for Sepahan when Al Haydos fed Niang and he curled a finish past Mohammadi to seal his side’s passage into the last four.

Al Ittihad have progressed into the semi finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League despite a 0-1 loss to FC Seoul away.

Al Ittihad who looked more dangerous in the opening minutes of the game and Kim Yong-dae was the first goalkeeper to be called into action. With 12 minutes gone, Sultan Al Numare unleashed a fierce shot just outside the area that had Kim lunging to push it away for a corner.

Seoul made their way into the game as the half progressed and controlled possession as the half drew to and end.

With the second half now underway, FC Seoul pushed forward in numbers but found equally numerous yellow shirts blocking the path to goal.

Five minutes into the second period, Molina curled a free-kick just over the bar and after 61 minutes Seoul finally got behind the Saudi defence but Choi Tae-wook’s low cross from the byline was cut out by Hamad Al Montashari.

Seoul started to turn up the pressure and the attacks grew increasingly desperate but the likes of Rashed Al Rahab, Al Montashari and Osama Al Harbi kept the defence intacked to deny the home team time and again.

With seven minutes remaining, Damjanovic fired over from outside the area and just when the game seemed to be heading for a stalemate, Molina intervened to give the home fans hope.

Just the game seemed to heading for a scoreless draw, Molina collected the ball on the edge of the area, picked his spot and curled a shot into the top-right corner of the Al Ittihad net, giving Zaid no chance.

The strike set up a grandstand finish but Seoul were unable to get the all-important second, with Kang Jung-hun’s misplaced header from a Molina corner the closest they came as Al Ittihad hung on to book a semi-final spot with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Lee Dong-gook scored four times in the second-half as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors cruised into the 2011 AFC Champions League semi-finals with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Cerezo Osaka at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Jeonbuk althogh trailing 4 – 3 from the first leg, controlled most of the first half. Both the Cerezo and Jeonbul keepers showed how they earned their money early on by showing how good their reflexes are.

Jeonbuk got the break-through they were after at the 30 minute mark when Luiz Henrique played an inch-perfect pass into Eninho’s path, who drilled a low shot past Kim Jin-hyeon.

Jeonbuk kept pressing upto the end of the first half, with Henrique once gain finding Eninho but the midfielder’s first touch took him wide and Kim Jin-hyeon pushed his fierce right-foot strike behind at the near post.

Lee missed a good opportunity within minutes of the restart when Eninho curled in a free-kick that Cho deflected and which hit the keeper and earned a corner.

From the resulting corner, Lee then rose highest at the near post to direct a header into the back of the net from six yards.

Lee then drilled a shot from 25 yards out which squirmed under Kim Jin-hyeon.

Lee then made 3 on the night at the 63rd minute when he volleyed Seo’s cross from the right. The shot took a deflection passing through Kim Jin-hyeon’s legs.

Cerezo manged to achieve a consolation goal eight minutes later when Komatsu latched onto Fabio Lopes’ measured ball that spilt two defenders and clinically side-footed home.

Jeonbuk scored their fifth soon after when a long pass was helped onto Eninho in the box and he flicked the ball past the onrushing Kim Jin-hyeon. Substitute Kim Dong-chan was on hand to nod in to an empty net.

Lee then made it 6 in stoppage time when Teruyuki Monawa’s poor clearance gifted him an easy goal.

LIVE! – QF1 – JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) – CEREZO OSAKA (JPN) (6 – 1) (FT) Aggregate (9 – 5)

LIVE! – QF2 – FC SEOUL (KOR)-AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (1 – 0) (FT) Aggregate (2 – 3)

LIVE! – QF3 – AL SADD (QAT)-FOOLAD MOBAREKEH SEPAHAN (IRN) (1 – 2) (FT) Aggregate (4 – 2)

LIVE! – QF4 – ZOBAHAN (IRN)-SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR) (1 – 2) (FT) Aggregate (2 – 3)

A late goal for Al Ittihad means they will enter the second leg in Korea with a comfortable 2 goal buffer after overcoming FC Seoul 3-1 in the first-leg of their 2011 AFC Champions League quarter-final.

The opening period was a little on the quite side until Naif Hazazi controlled a bouncing ball 20 yards out and then unleashed a volley that made Seoul keeper Kim Yong-dae earn his money.

Al Ittihad took the lead a just before the break when Kim Yong-dae could not get a strong enough hand on Hazazi’s flick to push it out of danger and Mohamed Noor pounced at the back post to poke the loose ball home.

The second half started energetically when Al Enezi latched onto a ball over the top in the box while at the other end, Mauricio Molina fired a free-kick straight at Al Ittihad keeper Mabrouk Zaid.

The Colombian forward then whistled a 30-yard effort just over the bar after finding a yard of space thanks to Dejan Damjanovic’s flick.

Al Ittihad then went 2 – 0 ahead when a free-kick was rolled into the path of Osama Al Harbi and his thunderous drive from 30 yards gave Kim Yong-dae no chance.

Trailing by two goals, Seoul decided to go on the offensive and some neat trickery from Molina saw him beat a defender and surge into the box but he lost his composure and drilled a poor finish beyond the far post.

FC Seoul pulled one back in the 82nd minute when Molina beat the offside trap and attempted to round Zaid. The Al Ittihad keeper got a hand to the ball but could only push it into the path of Choi, who slotted into the empty net.

Al Ittihad were not done though and with minutes to go Wendel’s fine control took him away from a Seoul defender and the Brazilian rifled a finish past Kim Yong-dae to make Al Ittihad slight favourites to progress to the semi-finals.

Ten man Sepahan secured a narrow win in the quarter-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Al Sadd.

The hosts were immediately on top when in the 3rd minute Hashem Beikzadeh cut into the box before firing narrowly over.

Sepahan took the lead in the 12th minute when Al Sadd half-cleared a corner and Ibrahimi’s low strike made its way through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner of the net.

Ahmad Jamshidian beat the offside trap in the 34th minute but his volleyed over from close range.

Sepahan’s was then reduced to 10 minute early in the second half. Imani was given his marching orders following a late challenge that earned the midfielder a second booking.

With a man advantage, Al Sadd were able to pin back their rivals but were unable to create any real clear-cut chances as they were let down by the quality of the final ball.

Januario, was given a great one on one with the keeper. A great save from Saqr however denied him.