World News – GB – Suwon in the way as Vissel Kobe tries to extend the dream run

Japan’s Vissel Kobe plans to continue his dream AFC Champions League debut when he takes on Korea Republic’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the quarter-final today at Al Janoub Stadium. The two teams had met twice in the group stage when Kyogo Furuhashi won the first leg for Vissel Kobe in February and Suwon Samsung Bluewings won 2-0 in the final group game, securing their place in the knock. at the expense of Guangzhou Evergrande. The Japanese team, led by the Spanish legend Andres Iniesta, led Group G with six points. . Johor Darul Ta’zim’s withdrawal from competition before the restart meant two consecutive wins against group rivals were enough to secure the top spot, allowing coach Atsuhiro Miura to rest and switch players in the return legs. Next up for Vissel Kobe was the star-studded Shanghai SIPG challenge in the round of 16, and Atsuhiro’s men proved up to the task. Iniesta opened the scoring after half an hour and Daigo Nishi added another after the break as they pushed the Chinese Super League team aside and reached the quarter-finals. Iniesta aside, former Arsenal and Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, Lebanese international defender Joan Oumari and Brazilian striker Douglas, who has the experience of running the line for Al Ain when they made the 2016 AFC Champions League final Kobe played a decisive role for Vissel. They are all expected to deliver, especially if Iniesta has doubts ahead of today’s game. « We’ll see later, » said Miura as he shed light on Iniesta’s situation after the Spaniard hobbled off the pitch in the round of 16 against Shanghai SIPG. “We will discuss it with the medical staff and make a decision. So far I can’t say if he’ll play. « Should Iniesta not be fully fit to make it to the quarter-finals, chances like Japanese full-back Gotuku Sakai, who were in phenomenal form as his offer and penetrating runs were crucial further up the field, could be. « Qatar. Unlike their opponents, Suwon Samsung Bluewings has a proud history of success in continental competitions, although their most recent success was two decades ago. The Republic of Korea team saw their glory around the turn of the century, reaching the final of the Asian Cup Winners Cup in 1997-98, which they lost to Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia. In 2000 she won two consecutive Asian Club Championships -01 and 2001-02. Since the competition was renamed, Suwon Samsung Bluewings has not seen its success despite eight appearances in the competition. Her best result remains reaching the semi-finals on two occasions; in 2011 and in their last campaign in 2018. Versatile midfielder Kim Min-woo, who came to Doha without a foreign contingent for a variety of reasons, has proven to be a driving force behind head coach Park Kun-ha’s side and has been named MVP in the last two games. « We only played with Korean players and we formed one team. Winning made us more organized and mentally stronger, « said Park. “As I always say, we have to watch one game at a time and the players show it on the field. I think they will be mentally stronger than the first game and Kobe and we believe we can get the result tomorrow. « Ulsan, Beijing is facing a heavyweight clash. One of the AFC Champions League’s two unbeaten records will come to an end when Ulsan Hyundai FC and Beijing FC face each other in today’s second quarter-finals at Al Janoub Stadium. « . A blockbuster fight worthy of a continental decision is looming, but the clash between two of the East Zone’s two most formidable outfits takes place in the quarterfinals, with one of the two set to be abruptly eliminated. Ulsan Hyundai has reached the last eight for the first time since winning the title in 2012, winning all six games in Doha and scoring multiple goals each time to the delight of head coach Kim Do-hoon. Unlike Ulsan, Beijing will make its first appearance in the club’s history at this stage of the competition, but the path to the quarter-finals is as impressive as that of its Korean rivals. Both teams scored 16 out of 18 possible points in the group stage, with Bruno Génésio’s Beijing emerging on Monday with a 1-0 win over FC Tokyo in the round of 16. Aside from a 1-1 draw with Chiangrai United on matchday six, Beijing have won every game in this year’s club.

Never seen Messi as a rival, says Ronaldo after prevailing against the old enemy

In two years’ time, the 2022 World Cup will be special both on and off the field.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings, AFC Champions League, FC Ulsan Hyundai, Vissel Kobe, Beijing Sinobo Guoan F. . C.. . , K League 1