Wednesday, September 22, 2010

AFC CL: Pohang Dethoned by Zob Ahan; Seongnam, Al-Hilal, Al-Shabab Also Advance

Four games were played on Wednesday as the quarterfinal round of the AFC Champions League came to a close.

At Pohang, South Korea:

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari scored the series-winning goal at 80 minutes as Zob Ahan Esfahan FC gained a 1-1 road draw with the Pohang Steelers, good enough to win the two-game series 3-2 on aggregate and send the defending champions packing.

At Suwon, South Korea:

Despite dropping a 2-0 game-two decision on the road against Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma still won their two-game series 4-3 on aggregate.

At Doha, Qatar:

With hosts Al-Ghafara, thanks to goals from Mergani Al-Zain (1'), Younis Mahmoud (38'), and Otmar El Assas (41), grabbing game two 3-0 in regulation time, forcing their two-match set with visiting Al-Hilal into overtime, the Saudi Arabian club, with goals by Yasser Al-Qahtani (117') and Essa Al Mehyani (118'), still took the two-game series 5-4 on aggregate.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Despite dropping a 1-0 home decision to Jeonbuk Hundai Motors in game two, Al-Shabab still won their two-game series 2-1 on aggregate.

Here are your semifinal matchups:

Al-Shabab will host the opening contest of their two-game series with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 5, with the return match at Seongnam, South Korea on October 20.


Game one of the Zob Ahan-Al-Hilal series will be played at Isfahan, Iran on October 6, with the return match to be played at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 20.


The winners will square off in the one-match final to take place on November 13 at Tokyo, for the right to play in December's FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

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