AFC Champions league Round of 16 fixture schedule

After the completion of the group stage this week, the last 16 match-ups feature two dynamite intra-country affairs, with Saudi giants and former two-time ACL champions Al Ittihad hosting countrymen Al Shabab, also their recent conquerors in the Saudi King’s Cup.

In the only west Asian clash not featuring a Saudi team, Iran’s Piroozi (Persepolis), the Group B winners, are at home to Group D runners-up Bunyodkor, the Uzbek champions.

On the other side of the continent, Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers take on Aussies Newcastle Jets in the only eastern clash not involving a Japanese side.

In all, Japan and Saudi are represented by four teams each in the last 16. Korea Republic have three qualifiers while two Uzbek teams join the knockout fray.

One team each from Australia, Iran and Qatar also made it through.

Among the most intriguing matches is that of Group F winners Gamba and Kawasaki, the runners-up of Group H, next month.

Gamba had already won the group before Wednesday’s 2-1 home defeat to FC Seoul, whose victory enabled them to finish second in Group F and secure a last 16 away clash to Japan’s Group G winners Kashima Antlers.

Kawasaki needed only a draw in their final Group H match against Pohang Steelers, of Korea Republic, to finish on top and avoid Gamba.

But they fell to a 2-0 defeat to the Steelers, who go on to host the Jets. The Australian side sneaked into the knockout phase after beating Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 away to finish second in Group E.

Japanese side Nagoya Grampus won Group E and host Group G runners-up Suwon Bluewings next week, one of two Japan-Korea Republic clashes in the last 16.

Al Ittihad are the only two-time winners of the ACL but face a difficult task against Al Shabab, who thrashed their rivals 4-0 in last week’s King’s Cup final to end the champions’ hopes of a domestic double.

Fellow Saudi team Al Hilal, as Group A winners, take on Qataris Umm Salal, who were second in Group C. The fourth Saudi team to qualify, Group D table-toppers Al Ettifaq, are at home to Uzbeks Pakhtakor, the Group A runners-up.

Piroozi are the only Iranian side, out of four, to reach the last 16 and finished equal on seven points with Al Shabab in Group B.

Piroozi, however, won the Group because they have a superior head-to-head record over the Saudis.

The last 16 employs a one-match knockout format before the competition turns to home-and-away clashes for the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

The draw for the quarter-finals is open so that it is possible for teams from the West and East to face each other.

The final is a one-off affair in Tokyo in November.

27 May, 2009   Winners Group A v Runners-up Group C     
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) v Umm-Salal (Qatar)

27 May, 2009   Winners Group B  v  Runners-up Group D     
Piroozi Athletic (Iran) v Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)

27 May, 2009   Winners Group C  v  Runners-up Group B    
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) v Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)

27 May, 2009   Winners Group D v  Runners-up Group A
Al Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) v Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
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24 June, 2009   Winners Group H  v  Runners-up Group E     
Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic) v Newcastle Jets (Australia)

24 June, 2009   Winners Group G  v  Runners-up Group F     
Kashima Antlers (Japan) v FC Seoul (Korea Republic)

24 June, 2009   Winners Group F  v Runners-up Group H     
Gamba Osaka (Japan) v Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)

24 June, 2009   Winners Group E  v  Runners-up Group G
Nagoya Grampus (Japan) v Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic)