2009 ACL draw – thrilling match-ups

AFC - Battle lines have been drawn for the 2009 AFC Champions League after the official draw on Wednesday at the Emirates Group HQ in Dubai threw up some intriguing match-ups.

Defending champions Gamba Osaka, of Japan, have landed in Group F with Korea Republic’s FC Seoul, Shandong Luneng, of China, and Indonesian side Sri Wijaya.

Qatar’s Umm Salal were rewarded for their successful 2008 Qatari Cup campaign with a daunting draw.

Umm Salal were drawn alongside high-flying Emirati outfit Al Jazira, Iran’s Hazfi Cup winners Esteghal and Saudi’s two-time Asian champions Al Ittihad in Group C.

Coached by Frenchman Gerard Gili, Salal will begin their campaign with a tough trip to Abu Dhabi to face the Black Spiders, while Esteghal travel to Jeddah for a mouth-watering tie with Ittihad.

In the East draw for the 32-team group stage, Gamba, who secured their place in the lucrative $14million tournament by winning the Emperor’s Cup last week in Tokyo, will get their defence under way when they host FC Seoul at the Expo ’70 Stadium.

Kashima Antlers, the six-time J-League winners and champions in 2008, face China’s Shanghai Shenhua and K-League champions Suwon Bluewings in Group G.

Saudi Champions Cup victors Al Shabab meet Iranian league winners Persepolis, Qatari heavyweights Al Gharafa and the winners of the Western qualifying play-off, either the UAE’s Al Sharjah or India’s sole flag-flier Dempo, in Group B.

Al Hilal, the Saudi Arabian giants who have a long heritage in Asia’s elite tournament having won twice previously, were the first name out of the pot as they headed Group A.

They were grouped with the UAE’s President’s Cup winners Al Ahly, as well as Uzbekistan league runners-up Pakhtakor and Iran’s Saba Battery.

Emirati League champions Al Shabab, who have struggled this year in the newly formed UAE Football League, will travel to Iran as they start their campaign against Sepahan.

The other opening match in Group D will see Uzbek champions Bunyodkor play host to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq.

Back to the East, and Champions League debutants Nagoya Grampus will take heart from the draw after they found themselves placed in Group E alongside Beijing Guoan and Ulsan Hyundai, both of whom finished third in their respective leagues last season.

Grampus will, however, make the long trip south-east to Australia where they will take on the might of the southern hemisphere’s Newcastle Jets.

The Jets fierce rivals Central Coast Mariners were placed in the final foursome, Group H. They will take on Korea’ s FA Cup winners Pohang Steelers, Kawasaki Frontale and China’s Tianjin Teda, who finished fourth in the Super League last year.

The first round of matches will be played during March 10 and 11.

Groups A-D are filled with West and Central Asian sides while East and Asean teams have been placed in groups E-H.