K-League teams face difficult AFC draws

Three South Korean representatives at a continental club football competition have drawn tough opponents in the quarterfinals.

At the Asian Football Confederation Champions League, FC Seoul of the K-League drew a two-time champion, Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, in the quarters. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will clash against Cerezo Osaka of Japan.

A third K-League club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, will meet Zob Ahan of Iran.

Al Ittihad won AFC titles in 2004 and 2005. FC Seoul, the 2010 K-League champion, is seeking its first AFC championship.

Jeonbuk is the 2006 AFC winner. Cerezo has two South Korean players on its roster, with goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyun and midfielder Kim Bo-kyung. It’s the only Japanese club left among the final eight.

Jeonbuk and Cerezo were paired together in the group stage, and split their two matches. FC Seoul and Jeonbuk are slated to meet in the semis if both teams win their quarterfinals.

Zob Ahan was the runner-up behind the K-League’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma last year in the Champions League.

Quarterfinals will be held home and away on Sept. 14 and on either Sept. 27 or 28, with the aggregate scores determining the winners.

The K-League has been the most successful Asian circuit in the AFC competition, with nine champions so far. 

(Yonhap News)