Pohang in Uzbekistan to Face Bunyodkor
By Matt Flemming
Staff Reporter
Pohang Steelers will be looking to keep their bid for three titles alive when they travel to Uzbekistan to face the Luiz Felipe Scolari-led FC Bunyodkor in Tashkent Wednesday in the first leg of the Asian Football Conference (AFC) Champions League quarterfinals.
Also on Wednesday, Korea's other entry in the final eight, FC Seoul, will visit Qatari club Umm Salal SC.
Scolari took over Bunyodkor in June and, along with fellow Brazilian and former Barcelona star Rivaldo, has led the Uzbekistan team to a perfect 23 wins in 23 matches in the domestic league.
With a 2-2-2 record in the group stage and a 1-0 win against Piroozi Athletic of Iran in the round of 16, Scolari also has Bunyodkor into the quarters, just as the wealthy club expected when they signed him to a contract reportedly worth about $18 million annually.
"Certainly, I would like Bunyodkor to win the continental title. I think we will have equal chances of winning against Pohang Steelers," said Scolari, who was sacked as Chelsea's manager last season.
Scolari led Brazil to the FIFA World Cup title in 2002 and also led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 and the semifinal of the 2006 World Cup.
Pohang are also led by a Brazilian coach, Sergio Farias, who guided Pohang to a K-League Cup title last week.
"We have no stars but we have four championship stars on our shirt," said Farias. "Bunyodkor have star players but even they can't guarantee victory in the tournament."
The Steelers had three wins and three draws in the group stage before walloping Australia's Newcastle Jets 6-0 in the round of 16.
Pohang is also in third place, just five points back of FC Seoul with a match in hand, in the K-League table.
The enter Wednesday's match fresh from the cup win and an 8-1 pounding of Jeju United on Sept. 13.
Rivaldo said Bunyodkor won't be taking Pohang lightly.
"Pohang have a Brazilian star, Denilson, in their squad and their coach Sergio Farias is well known, so we should take Pohang very seriously and not treat them like a usual rival."
Rivaldo joined Bunyodkor last year and has scored 30 goals in 50 appearances.
In addition to Rivaldo, the Steelers will also have to contend with AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov and Anvar Soliev.
K-League top club FC Seoul posted a record of 3-1-2 in the group stage and scored a 5-4 win on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw with the Kashima Antlers of Japan in the round of 16.
They will visit a Qatari club on Wednesday that also needed penalty kicks to advance. Umm Salal topped Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal 4-3 in penalty kicks after the match ended in a scoreless draw.
In the other fixtures, Kawasaki Frontale meets Nagoya Grampus in an all Japanese matchup and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan takes on Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
Pohang and Seoul will host their second leg matches next Wednesday.