December 7 – The Asian Champions League East Zone is continuing at pace in Qatar with last 16 matches (8 teams playing in the East Zone) completing today. Quarter finals will be played Thurday.
Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai and China’s Beijing FC continued their unbeaten runs in the group stages to qualify for the next stage. They have been joined by Japan’s Vissel Kobe, while Yokohama F Marinos and Suwon Samsung Bluewings play off this evening for the final slot.
Ulsan Hyundai’s impressive run continued with an emphatic 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory with a 3-0 win at Education City Stadium on Sunday.
Bjørn Johnsen was Ulsan’s super sub, scoring two goals off the bench for the second game running, with fellow replacement Won Du-jae also finding the net.
Beijing FC made it into the AFC Champions League knockout stage for the first time – ending a run of Round of 16 defeats in 2010, 2013, and 2015 – beating FC Tokyo 1-0. Their unbeaten run in the competition is now at seven, a club record.
Beijing’s star was Renato Augusto, but it was A Lan, formerly known as Alan Carvalho, who netted his fourth goal of the tournament to put Beijing to within three wins of a maiden Asian title.
Vissel Kobe’s Andres Iniesta and Shanghai SIPG’s Oscar were the star attractions at the Khalifa International Stadium with the J1 League side taking the honours in their first ever AFC Champions League knockout match. Shanghai were contesting their fifth straight Round of 16 game.
Iniesta won in the battle of the stars, scoring on 30 minutes. Daigo Nishi doubled the score in the second half to see the Japanese team through 2-0.
Last four in the east zone play off Thursday with the semi final being played Sunday December 13. Iran’s Persepolis await the winners in the final of Saturday December 17. The winners of that match qualify for the first of next year’s two Club World Cups.
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