Buriram face Iranian test in AFC Champions League Q-final
Play
Thai FA Cup winners Buriram United have been drawn against Iranian heavyweights Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals - a match-up between seasoned campaigners and the Thai new kids on the block.
Northeast club Buriram upset Uzbek giants Budyodkor 2-1 on aggregate to become the first Thais to reach the last eight of the continent’s elite club competition since BEC Tero Sasana made it to the final in 2003. Esteghlal, though, are no strangers to continental glory, having won the Asian Club Championship in 1970 and 1991. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli will go head-to-head with Korean opposition for the first time since losing to Ulsan Hyundai in last year’s ACL final, after the knockout-phase draw pitted the Jeddah giants against FC Seoul in the quarter-finals.
Al Ahli in fine form
Al Ahli have been in fine ACL form, having won four and drawn two of their group stage games before going on to defeat Qatari debutants 3-1 on aggregate in the last-16.
Al Ahli progressed to the last eight under Aleksandar Ilic but the Saudis have since dispensed with the services of the Serb strategist in favour of Vitor Pereira, and the former Porto manager will need to gel quickly with his players before they take on an FC Seoul side looking to become the fifth Korean club to lift the ACL trophy since 2006.
The ever-increasing competitiveness of Asian football has resulted in a quarter-final line up that features no previous AFC Champions League winners.
The remaining quarter-final clashes serve up mouth-watering East-versus-West clashes with big-spending Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande FC – who are led by Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and powered by tournament leading scorer Muriqui – locking horns with Lekhwiya, two-time champions of Qatar. Meanwhile, Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol take on 2010 AFC Champions League semi-finalists Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia.
The first leg of the 2013 AFC Champions League quarter-finals will be held on August 21, with the return fixtures taking place on September 18.
Draw:
Al Ahli (KSA) v FC Seoul (KOR)
Esteghlal (IRI) v Buriram United (THA)
Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) v Al Shabab (KSA)
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) v Lekhwiya (QAT)
