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Wanderers, Guangzhou in same group
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AFC Champions League winners Western Sydney Wanderers will face an early repeat of their bad-tempered quarterfinal win over Chinese champion Guangzhou Evergrande after the two were grouped together for next year’s tournament yesterday.
The Australian outfit prevailed on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw when the two met in August, a tie which led to nine separate disciplinary sanctions by the Asian Football Confederation after red cards and ugly scenes from the coaching bench.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was given a two-game ban for “offensive behavior” while recently retired Guangzhou coach Marcello Lippi was given a three-match ban for angrily confronting the referee who sent off Gao Lin and Zhang Linpeng in the 0-1 first-leg loss in Sydney.
Sydney went on to become the first Australian winner of Asia’s flagship club tournament, succeeding Guangzhou, now coached by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro.
The two were drawn in Group H, alongside either Urawa Red Diamonds or Kashima Antlers from Japan.
South Korean side FC Seoul, which Sydney beat in the semis en route to the title, could also join them in the four-team pool if it comes through one of eight playoff ties scheduled for February which will complete the 32-team group stage lineup.
Group G will also feature a Japan-Australia match-up with Brisbane Roar facing either Urawa or Kashima, along with South Korean league runners-up Suwon Bluewings.
Group F sees Japanese and Thai champions meeting, with Gamba Osaka drawn alongside Buriram United and Korean FA Cup winner Seongnam FC in a more favorable pool for the J-League side.
In the West Asian section of the draw, al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, which Sydney beat in the final last month, was drawn in Group C alongside Iranian champion Foolad Khuzesta and Uzbek FA Cup winner Lokomotiv Tashkent. While Saudi champion Nassr and Qatari Stars League winner Lekhwiya were drawn in Group A alongside Iranian runner-up Persepolis.
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