K-League quartet star in AFC Champions League quarters
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A record four K-League clubs, two Riyadh giants, Qatari champions Al Gharafa and Iran Pro League leaders Zobahan compete in this month's AFC Champions League quarter-finals, which kick off with the first leg on Wednesday.
Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR) v Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
At least one Korean club will reach the semi-finals as Seongnam Ilhwa and a resurgent Suwon Bluewings face off in a clash between two winners of the former Asian Club Championship.
Seongnam host the first of the two legs at the Tancheon Sports Complex south of Seoul, where the two Gyeonggi giants recently drew 0-0 in the K-League. Seongnam, Korea's most successful club with seven K-League titles, are currently third in the table after two draws earlier this month.
Since taking charge last season, former club captain Shin Tae-yong has moulded an impressive side led by the attacking talents of former Colombia international Mauricio Molina and Macedonian target man Dzenan Radoncic. Both have scored eight times in this year's K-League, while Molina has also scored four times in the AFC Champions League.
Australian centre-back Sasa Ognenovski captains the team from central defence, while goalkeeper Jung Song-ryong established himself as Korea Republic's number one at the FIFA World Cup.
Suwon, who won their fourth K-League title in 2008, have regained their confidence since Yoon Sung-hyo took over from Cha Bum-kun in June, when the side was rooted to the bottom of the 15-team K-League.
The Bluewings now lie seventh in the table, are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and reached the last four of the K-League Cup.
However, their nine-game unbeaten streak in the league ended on Saturday evening, when they lost 3-0 at home to leaders Jeju United. Suwon's World Cup star Yeom Ki-hun marked his return from injury by playing the second half.
Playmaker Kim Do-heon has regained his place in the national team, 23-year-old striker Shin Young-rok is back from his ill-fated stint in Turkey, while Brazilian Jose Mota is the AFC Champions League's top scorer this year with nine goals.
Former Japan striker Naohiro Takahara – often preferred to Mota in the league – former China captain Li Weifeng and new Brazilian signing Marcio Diogo are Suwon's other foreigners.
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) v Al Shabab (KSA)
Jeonbuk Motors, the 2006 AFC Champions League winners, will hope for an inspired performance against Al Shabab when the reigning K-League champions host the Saudi giants at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Jeonbuk's 3-1 home loss to Gangwon on Friday marked their third defeat in five K-League matches, while last month Choi Kang-hee's men were knocked out of the FA Cup by Suwon and beaten by FC Seoul in the K-League Cup final.
The Motors remain a strong attacking force. Brazilian winger Eninho is currently the league's joint-top scorer with 13 goals, while strikers Lee Dong-gook and Croatian Kruno Lovrek have both netted eight times.
Shabab have had a slow start to the 2010-11 Saudi league under new coach Jorge Fossati, picking up just four points in four games. Following two losses, Saudi Arabia striker Nassir Al Shamrani scored twice in the 2-1 home win over Al Ettifaq before missing a penalty in a goalless draw at Al Nasr.
Last month the ‘White Lions' lifted their first trophy under the former Uruguay boss when they won the Elite International Championship friendly tournament in Abha.
The Riyadh club boast a host of established Saudi internationals including midfield brothers Ahmed Ateef and Abdoh Autef, centre-back Naif Al Qadi, full-backs Abdullah Shuhail and Hassan Muath, and goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah.
Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Camacho has been a Shabab favourite since 2007, while 1.91-metre Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera, former Korea Republic international Song Chong-gug and Brazilian centre-back Marcelo Tavares joined in the summer.
Zobahan (IRN) v Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Zobahan host holders Pohang Steelers at the Foolad Shahr Stadium in confident mood after enjoying a strong start to the 2010-11 Iran Pro League.
The Esfahan club, league runners-up in the last two seasons, are currently two points clear at the top after beating Tractor Sazi 2-1 on Friday. Goals from right-back Mohammad Hosseini and striker Mohammad Ghazi secured their sixth win in eight games.
Iran international Mohammad Khalatbari is the Greens' leading striker, while other current internationals include Hosseini, midfielder Ghasem Hadadifar and goalkeeper Shahab Gordan.
Pohang have gone off the boil after K-League losses to Jeonbuk and FC Seoul earlier this month ended a run of five unbeaten games under former assistant coach Park Chang-hyun, who took over from Waldemar Lemos ahead of the round of 16 in May.
Seol Ki-hyeon could make his AFC Champions League debut and recently scored three goals in four K-League games as the 31-year-old former international begins to make up for an injury-stricken few months since joining from Fulham in January.
Brazilian strikers Mota and Almir were joined by compatriot Zulu in August, while Japanese defender Kazunari Okayama is the club's ‘Asian' player.
Al Hilal (KSA) v Al Gharafa (QAT)
Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal will look to make the most of home advantage at the King Fahd International Stadium in their star-studded clash with Qatari champions Al Gharafa, who are captained by former Brazil star Juninho.
Hilal have been outstanding under Belgian legend Eric Gerets, winning the 2009-10 Saudi league and Crown Prince Cup earlier this year and kicking off this season's campaign with four straight wins.
The Riyadh club – who recently announced that Sven-Goran Eriksson would take over from Gerets after he leaves to coach Morocco – maintained their winning formula by retaining all four of their foreign stars over the summer.
Sweden winger Christian Wilhelmsson and Romania midfielder Mirel Radoi, both recently involved in Euro 2012 qualifiers, Brazil Olympic star Thiago Neves and full-back Lee Young-pyo, fresh from his third World Cup, have all played a big part in Hilal's recent success.
Saudi Arabia striker Yasser Al Qahtani has already scored four times in the league, with Hilal edging Ittihad on goal difference after four games.
Like Hilal, Gharafa have retained their four foreign stars from the group stage. Younus Mahmood, Iraq's AFC Asian Cup-winning captain, strike partner Clemerson of Brazil and Moroccan midfielder Otman El Assas are key players, although Juninho is arguably the tournament's most high-profile player.
The 35-year-old, who won seven French league titles with Lyon, was named Qatar's Player of the Year after helping Gharafa win their third straight league crown and two cup titles in his first season with the Doha club.
However, the ‘Cheetahs' were surprisingly knocked out of last month's Sheikh Jassim Cup in the group stage. Caio Junior's men beat Al Markhiya (5-0), Al Khuya (1-0) and Al Rayyan (6-1), but lost 1-0 to both Al Khor and group-topping Lekhwiya in the tournament, which precedes the league.
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