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Wednesday October 21, 2009

Pohang, Al Ittihad eye healthy lead in semis first-leg

SEOUL: South Korea’s Pohang Steelers are determined to make the most of playing at home in their AFC Champions League semi-final today, as are Saudi giants Al Ittihad who host Japan’s Nagoya Grampus.

Pohang take on Qatari minnows Umm Salal in their first-leg match after maintaining their impressive home form at the weekend when they sealed a 1-0 victory over Gangwon that kept them third in the K-League.

Their Brazilian striker Denilson, one of the stars of this year’s competition with seven goals, is confident his team will do enough to secure a healthy lead to take into the second-leg in Doha next week.

“My goal and the team’s goal is to win the AFC Champions League. This will be the best reward for the players, staff, fans and everyone else,” he told reporters.

But Pohang, who ended the AFC Champions League dreams of former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari and his Bunyodkor team in the last eight, have their work cut-out against the Qataris who beat FC Seoul in the quarters.

Umm Salal never dreamed they would get this far but their French coach Gerard Gili believes they can now make the final.

“We are the smallest club left in the AFC Champions League and I think we can be a role model for others. Even though we are not a big team, we can get big results,” he said.

Saudi champions Al Ittihad start as firm favourites in the other semi against Nagoya after their resounding 4-0 victory over Uzbek heavyweights Pakhtakor in their quarter-final second-leg.

Despite their scintillating performances, Al Ittihad coach Gabriel Calderon is expecting a tough test.

“We need to travel to Japan (for the second-leg) and we will face a strong team but since we accept no excuses I think we will secure the win and qualify to the final.”

Their task has been made more difficult with central defender Redha Takar suspended after receiving yellow cards in both legs of their quarter-final.

Calderon has a host of options to replace the Saudi international, but is expected to opt for Osama Al Harbi, who is useful at set pieces.

Nagoya have their own injury worries with striker Keiji Tamada a doubt after injuring a rib while playing for Japan in their Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong earlier this month.

Nagoya’s Serbian coach Dragan Stojkovic also has a selection headache in defence after Takahiro Masukawa was hospitalised with swine flu.

Masukawa’s absence is particularly unfortunate as it follows a back injury to Serb defender Milos Bajalica, who has been competing with Masukawa for a starting spot this season. — AFP

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