This week we look at the 3rd quarter final between Iranian Champions and regular Asian Champions League League contender Sepahan and Qatari champion Al Sadd. 
Sepahan
The 2011/12 Persian League is only 3 matches old with Sepahan sitting in 7th position with only 1 win so far and two draws a total of 5 points. Their first and only win was against Sanat Naft which is currently sitting in 8th position. Given that the new season is underway, Sepahan will certainly be greared up for the Quarter Final and as always will have a …

The three Korean representatives in the AFC Champions League have avoided a possible clash between each other in the quarter-finals, following the knock-out stage draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will be reunited with Cerezo Osaka of Japan – whom they have met twice in Group G – while FC Seoul are to face Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad. Suwon Samsung Bluewings will take on Zobahan of Iran for a chance to make it to the semi finals.
The winners from the Cerezo-Jeonbuk match will advance …

Whilst we are still over a month away from round 1 of the 2011 Asian Champions League Quarter Finals, I wanted to review what each of the 8 quarter finalists was up to domestically as we approach the elimination games.
Al Ittihad
Al Ittihad are currently between seasons so we will need to reflect on how they performed during the 2010/11 season which concluded in May. Al Ittihad finished second in the Saudi First Division. First position went to Saudi heavy weights Al Hilal. Al Ittihad finished in second position with 51 …

Whilst we are still over a month away from round 1 of the 2011 Asian Champions League Quarter Finals, I wanted to review what each of the 8 quarter finalists was up to domestically as we approach the elimination games.

The Japanese women’s team arrived at the Narita International Airport to a rapturous welcome as thousands of fans greeted them after being crowned the Queens of the world.
Thousands of joyous, flag-waving fans wearing the team’s dark blue jerseys were present at the airport as the Homare Sawa-led contingent made its way into the terminal.
Two trucks shot out celebratory arches of water over the team’s aircraft as it approached the terminal.
Ayumi Kaihori, Japan’s star goalkeeper in their 3-1 penalty shootout victory over US in the final, was the first to come …

QF1 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
QF2 Al Ittihad (KSA) v FC Seoul (KOR)
QF3 Sepahan (IRN) v Al Sadd (QAT)
QF4 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) v Zob Ahan (IRN)

It seems most home teams won through to the quarter finals of AFC Asian Champions League for 2011. The quarter finals will be made up of three Korean teams, two Iranian, one Qatari, one Japanese and one Saudi team. The draw for the knockout stage will be held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on June 7.
THE QUARTER-FINALISTS
Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic)
Cerezo Osaka (Japan)
Sepahan (Iran)
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Al Sadd (Qatar)
Zob Ahan (Iran)
Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic)
FC Seoul (Korea Republic)

Skipper Abdulla Koni’s first-half goal proved enough for Al Sadd to see off Al Shabab 1-0 at Al Sadd Stadium and reach the quarter-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League.
Koni headed home from close range in the 12th minute following a corner kick as the Qatari club came out on top in the last 16 clash.
Playing in front of 7,140 fans with the cooling system switched on to keep the searing summer heat away from the players, Al Sadd emerged triumphant after goalkeeper Mohamed …