Time of reckoning for Korean clubs in Asia
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Suwon Samsung Bluewings’ Santos, left, scores a goal during a K-League Classic football match against FC Seoul at the Suwon World Cup Stadium, Saturday. / Yonhap
By John Duerden
By the end of this week, South Korea could have three teams in the second round of the 2016 Asian Champions League, or there could be just one.
One game remains in the first round of the continental competition where teams have to finish in the top two of their four-team groups to progress to round 16.
FC Seoul is already there. The capital club strolled smoothly into the knockout stage and has already won the group. Seoul was perhaps the most impressive performer of the 32 teams and nobody will relish a trip to Sangam Stadium.
Pohang Steelers are already out. The Gyeongnam Province team picked up four points from the first two games in the group but then lost three in a row. It is all over for Choi Jin-cheul’s men.
It was not a happy few weeks for the team. It may be better for the team to be eliminated from the continental competition because Pohang is struggling in the K-League Classic. The roster does not have the capability to compete on two fronts.
Jeonbuk Motors is supposed to have such depth. The team was busy in the transfer market in the winter and the defending champion was strongly favored to win at home and challenge in Asia. At the moment, the Jeonju team is in first place in Group E, but there is still plenty of work to do for Choi Kang-hee’s men.
Jeonbuk hosts Jiangsu Suning. The Chinese team spent more than $80 million on Brazilian international Alex Teixeira and Ramires. The Koreans need a tie to be sure while Jiangsu needs to win. Both will go through if FC Tokyo loses at the Vietnamese home of Binh Duong.
Anything could happen. Ideally Jeonbuk will be looking to win to secure first place. Finishing in pole position means that in the round of 16 you play the second-placed team from another group and also play the second leg at home, which is generally regarded as an advantage.
Jeonbuk has been inconsistent. A loss in Vietnam was an example of chaos: two sendings-off, poor substitutions and terrible tactics. It was not looking good but then coach Choi took his team to Japan to win 3-0 at FC Tokyo, as impressive an away result as you will see in the tournament all year.
It could be tricky at home in Jiangsu. Jeonbuk needs only a tie to progress and that can be difficult when you know you do not have to win against a team that needs nothing short of victory. Jeonbuk is expected to do what needs to be done, but it will not be easy against one of the world’s richest teams.
At least Jeonbuk has its destiny in its own hands. Suwon Bluewings do not. Shanghai SIPG has already taken top spot in Group G leaving Melbourne and Suwon to scrap for second.
Both teams have six points, but victory for Melbourne will be enough. The rules state that if two teams finish level on points after six games, the one that finishes on top is the one with the better record in head to head meetings between the two. Suwon tied 0-0 in Australia and 1-1 at home. Because Melbourne scored a goal away from home and the Koreans did not, the Australians have the advantage.
Suwon has to defeat Shanghai at home and hope that Melbourne does not do the same against Gamba Osaka. It could be a forlorn hope. The Japanese are already out of the reckoning and are not going to send a strong team down under.
It is a case of do your best and wait and see. It was ever thus in Asia. Korean teams will have to do their best and hope to have three teams in the second round. But it is just a hope, not an expectation.