Crunch time for Asian champions league hopefuls

Three-time champions of Asia Pohang Steelers and first round winners Esteghal are in the hunt for the three remaining places in the group stage of the AFC Champions League as the play-offs reach a climax across the continent on Saturday. South Korea's Pohang face Thai Premier League runners-up Chonburi at the Steelyard for a place in Group E alongside 2008 champions Gamba Osaka of Japan, Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor and play-off winners Adelaide United, while Esteghal entertain Saudi Arabia's Al Ettifaq in Tehran after beating fellow Iran Pro League side Zobahan 2-0 in the first round last week. The winners at Azadi Stadium will join Qatar's Al Rayyan, Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates and AFC Cup winners Nasaf from Uzbekistan in Group A, while Iran's Piroozi, Saudi League champions Al Hilal and Qatar's Al Gharafa await the winners of the tie between Al Shabab Al Arabi and Neftchi in Group D. On Thursday, Nigel Boogaard, Evgeniy Levchenko and Sergio van Dijk scored as Australia's Adelaide United secured a place in the group stage after beating Indonesia's Persipura Jayapura 3-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium. "In the end it was pretty comfortable, but in the first half we had a couple of opportunities to make some of those openings count, but unfortunately we either took a wrong option or wasted too much time setting up a strike on goal," said Adelaide assistant coach Luciano Trani. "They had a couple of good opportunities so we couldn't underestimate them at any stage." Pohang, who added the 2009 AFC Champions League crown to the two Asian Club Championship titles they won in 1997 and 1998, finished second in the K-League last season but lost to Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i in the play-offs and were forced to settle for third place overall. Coach Hwang Sun-hong, who was part of the Pohang squad which won both Asian Club Championship titles, will look to Ghana international Derek Asamoah and Romania forward Ianis Zicu to provide the attacking threat against Chonburi. Asamoah made an instant impact after signing from Bulgaria's Lokomotiv Sofia prior to the start of the 2011 season and was included in Ghana's expanded group ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring seven goals in 31 appearances for Pohang. And with striker Mota returning to his native Brazil, Pohang signed Zicu from Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia at the end of 2011. Chonburi, meanwhile, earned their place in the AFC Champions League play-offs after finishing second in the Thai Premier League behind Buriram PEA, who completed a domestic clean sweep after also winning the FA Cup and League Cup. After beating Zobahan last Friday thanks to goals from Khosro Heydari and Arash Borhani, Esteghlal entertain Al Ettifaq seeking a third consecutive appearance in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League. Esteghlal, who have won the Asian Club Championship twice in 1970 and 1990/91, also appeared in the AFC Champions League in 2003, but have only managed to advance past the Group Stage on one occasion in 2010 before losing to Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab in the Round of 16. Al Ettifaq, who are led by former Iran national coach Branko Ivankovic, reached the last 16 in 2009 after topping their group only to lose out in the knockout stages in stoppage time at home to Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor. Finally, the UAE's Al Shabab Al Arabi will also look to add to their sole AFC Champions League appearance in 2009 when the UAE Pro League side entertain Uzbekistan's Neftchi at Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai. Al Shabab Al Arabi, who reached the final of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1994, earned a place in the play-offs after finishing fourth in the UAE Pro League last season. The club narrowly missed out on advancing past the group stage of the AFC Champions League three years ago when they shared a goalless draw with Bunyodkor on Matchday Six. Neftchi, meanwhile, also finished fourth in their domestic league last season and are seeking a fourth AFC Champions League appearance. The five-time Uzbekistan champions last qualified for the Group Stage in 2007.