Crunch time for Asian Champions League hopefuls

Beijing, Feb 17 (IANS) Three-time Asian champions 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 football as the play-offs come to an end 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, Xinhua reported.

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.

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 Romanian 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.

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 winning the FA Cup and League Cup.