Saitama (AFP)
Thailand’s Pathum United and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals with two big wins on Friday, the first 4-0 over Kitchi of Hong Kong, and the second with 5-0 over Johor Dar Al-Tazim of Malaysia.
All East Zone playoffs will be played in the Japanese city of Saitama, with one single match, without a home or away game.
The Danish Alexander Schultz opened the scoring for Urawa, the 2007 and 2017 champions, early with a penalty kick (8), while Swede David Moberg-Carlson added a double before the end of the first half (19 and 39).
The Danish substitute Kasper Juncker also added a double, following he entered a quarter of an hour before the end of the match (84 and 90 + 1).
Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa said: “The fans supported us and created a great atmosphere at Saitama Stadium, an atmosphere that made us win. We achieved our goal.”
While Spanish coach Ricardo Rodriguez said, “The team did what it was supposed to and gave a distinguished first half. We have a lot of matches in a short space of time, but I was able to give some players an early break and the ones who came in did a great job. It was a great effort from the team.”
The draw for the quarter-finals will be held on Saturday, with the two matches scheduled for next Monday.
It is noteworthy that the western matches will be held in February 2023, and the Saudi Al Hilal team with Al-Ahly youth, the Saudi youth with the Uzbekistani Nasaf, the Qatari Al-Duhail with his compatriot Al-Rayyan, and the Saudi Al-Faisaly with the Iranian Foolad Khuzestan.
The Saudi Al Hilal won the title for the fourth time in its history (a record), by defeating the South Korean Pohang Steelers 2-0 last November in Riyadh.
