Pohang Steelers, the reigning Korean FA Cup winners, host 2007-08 A-League champions Newcastle Jets on Wednesday in the only AFC Champions League (ACL) east-zone round-of-16 match outside Japan.
Gamba Osaka host Kawasaki Frontale in an all-Japan clash, J.League champions Kashima Antlers welcome FC Seoul, while Nagoya Grampus host K-League holders Suwon Bluewings in the one-leg battle for quarter-final places.
Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad and Qatar's Umm Salal all qualified from last month's west-zone round-of-16 matches.
Pohang Steelers (KOR) V Newcastle Jets (AUS)
Pohang's 2-0 away victory over Japan's Kawasaki Frontale in their final group match helped the two-time winners of the former Asian Club Championship leapfrog the J.League giants to top spot in Group H.
The victory enabled the unbeaten Steelers to secure a knockout tie at the 16,800-capacity Steelyard Stadium against Newcastle, who secured second spot in their final Group E match, beating Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 in Korea.
Sergio Farias, who led Pohang to victory in the 2007 K-League, admitted he had wanted to be matched up with Newcastle to take advantage of the long distance the Australian side had to travel.
"We are a team that always wins. We have won the K-League and the FA Cup and now it's time we try to be number one in Asia," Farias, the former Brazil youth coach, told the-afc.com.
"Newcastle have skilful players with a lot of experience. They play compact football, are good on the counter-attack and will put pressure on us in midfield. We're working hard in training and trying to find the best way to play them."
Last year the Steelers lost twice to Australia's Adelaide United as they failed to get past the group stage in their ACL debut. The Steelers are led by Brazilian striker Denilson, who ended the group stage with four goals in the last two games, including a hat-trick against Australia's Central Coast Mariners.
Newcastle enjoyed their last visit to Korea, where Jason Hoffman's glancing header from Italian Fabio Vignaroli's left-wing cross was enough to beat Ulsan, which put them behind Nagoya in Group E.
"We knew it was going to be difficult but we achieved our goal. We were able to fight them off and that says a lot about our team's composure," said coach Gary van Egmond, whose side finished bottom of the 2008-09 A-League but quickly added reinforcements ahead of their Asian debut.
Gamba Osaka (JPN) v Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Kawasaki's loss to Pohang means they face a tough trip to reigning champions Gamba Osaka in all all-Japanese encounter that will pit the wits of the J.League's two longest-serving managers at the 23,000-capacity Expo '70 Stadium in Osaka, Japan's second biggest city.
"I was hoping to see all the J. League teams win their group and then also advance to the quarter-finals. However, in our match against Kawasaki, only one can advance and I hope that will be Gamba," said Gamba coach Akira Nishino, now in his eighth season with the Osaka side.
Gamba were unbeaten in 17 ACL games before a 2-1 loss to Seoul in their final Group F match last month.
Takashi Sekizuka, who guided Kawasaki to the ACL quarters in 2007, lamented his side's loss to Pohang. However, last year's J.League runners-up boast a dazzling array of attacking talent, including DPR Korea striker Jong Tae-se and Brazilian trio Juninho, Renatinho and Vitor Junior.
"Although we have to play Gamba away to stay in the tournament, this is not the end for us," said Sekizuka, now in his sixth season with Kawasaki. "We'll fix our problems in our domestic competition to prepare for the game."
Gamba and Frontale resumed J.League action on Saturday, when Osaka lost 2-0 to Albirex Niigata and Kawasaki beat Oita Trinita 2-0. The teams lie seventh and fourth in the league respectively.
