Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The Asian Champions League Elite last-16 ties for West Asia, which were postponed by the tensions in the Middle East, will now take place over one leg on April 13 and 14 for the eight teams in contention in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the continental football body said on Tuesday.
The final stages are scheduled for Jeddah between April 16 and 25, at the King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City stadiums, according to the decision taken by the Asian Football Confederation.
Saudi teams Al Ahli, the domestic title holders, and Al Ittihad will enjoy home advantage.
That makes the task harder for Al Wahda who will face Al Ittihad. The ADNOC Pro League champions Shabab Al Ahli also have a tricky run-in with their rivals, Iranian outfit Tractor FC.
The draw for the rest of the knockout stage was made on Wednesday. The quarter-finals will be played from April 16 to 18 while the semi-finals will be held on April 20 and 21.
The winner of the Wahda-Ittihad tie will meet Thai champions Buriram United, while Japan’s Machida Zelvia will take on the winners of Shabab Al Ahli-Tractor clash.
Two-legged knockout games in the East segment of the Champions League went ahead but four home-and-away ties in the West were postponed after the conflict broke out on February 28.
Similar one-off matches are on the cards for the lower divisions, ACL Two and Challenge League, with the centralised venues to be confirmed soon.
