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| (Photo = Ulsan Hyundai, the 2020 ACL winner / Korea Professional Football Federation) |
[데일리스포츠한국 우봉철 인턴기자] The group stage of ACL, which will determine the best Asian team in the 2021 season, has been completed.
On the 27th (Korean time), the Asian Football Federation (AFC) completed the 2021 AFC Champions League (ACL) final group through an online lottery ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As a result of this day, Ulsan Hyundai, the winner of the last tournament, met with good opponents. BG Pathum United, the top team in the Thai league, and Viettel, the winner of the Vietnam V-League last season, were assigned to Group F. The remaining one digit is determined by playoffs. The winner of the match between Brisbane Roar in Australia and Kaya in the Philippines competes with Guoan in Beijing, China, and the winning team joins the finals.
K-League defending champion Jeonbuk Hyundai meets Japan’s J-League Gamba Osaka. Gamba Osaka is a club familiar to us as national defender Kim Young-kwon and midfielder Ju Se-jong are playing. In particular, Jeonbuk has a bad memory of losing to Gamba Osaka in the 2015 ACL quarterfinals, so this confrontation is drawing more attention. In addition, Australia’s Sydney FC and Singapore’s Tamfinis Rovers were tied together with Jeonbuk in Group H.
Pohang and Daegu participating in the playoffs will enter Group G and Group I respectively upon victory. Group G includes Jiangsu in China, Nagoya Grampus in Japan, and Johor in Malaysia. In Group I, Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, China’s Guangzhou Hengda, and Philippines United City await. Both groups are mixed with challenging opponents.
The 2020 ACL East Asia region schedule starts with the preliminary round on April 7th, the playoffs on April 14, and the group stage from April 1 to May 7.
However, due to the influence of Corona 19, it will be held in one area rather than the existing home and away method. AFC plans to select a venue by receiving applications for invitation from participating club national associations.
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| (Photo = 2021 ACL East Asia Regional Draw Result / AFC Official SNS) |
2021 AFC Champions League East Asia Regional Draw Results
Group F
BG Pathum United (Thailand)
Ulsan Hyundai (Korea)
Vietel FC (Vietnam)
PO1 Beijing Guoan (China) / Brisbane Roar (Australia) / Kaya Iloilo (Philippines)
Group G
Jiangsu Suning (China)
Nagoya Grampus (Japan)
Johor Darul Tazim (Malaysia)
PO3 Pohang Steelers (Korea) / Ratchaburi Meat Pole (Thailand)
Group H
Jeonbuk Hyundai (Korea)
Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Tampines Rovers (Singapore)
Sydney FC (Australia)
Group I
Kawasaki Frontale (Japan)
Guangzhou Everlande (China)
United City (Philippines)
PO4 Daegu FC (Korea) / Chiang Rai UTD (Thailand)
Group J
Shandong Luneng (China)
Port FC (Thailand)
Kitchi SC (Hong Kong)
PO2 Cereso Osaka (Japan) / Melbourne City (Australia) / Shan United (Myanmar)