Asian champions Pohang drawn with Adelaide, Shandong
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Pohang Steelers will begin the defence of their AFC Champions League with Group H matches against 2008 runners-up Adelaide United, China's Shandong Luneng and Japan's Emperor's Cup winners. The Emperor's Cup final will be held in Tokyo on January 1.
The official draw for the 2010 AFC Champions League was held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Monday afternoon and assigned 32 teams into eight groups of four, split into West and East zones.
Kashima Antlers, who won their third straight J.League title on Saturday, were drawn in a tough Group F with newly crowned K-League winners Jeonbuk Motors, winners of the 2006 AFC Champions League. Shandong Luneng, last year's Chinese Super League winners, and Indonesian champions Persipura Jayapura rounded out the group.
Kawasaki Frontale, J. League runners-up in three of the past four years, take on Chinese champions Beijing Guoan, K-League runners-up Seongnam Ilhwa and reigning A-League champions Melbourne Victory.
Japan's Gamba Osaka, the 2008 champions, will take on Korean FA Cup winners Suwon Bluewings, China's Henan Jianye and the winners of the east-zone playoffs, featuring four clubs.
Singapore Armed Forces and Vietnam's SHB Da Nang will contest one playoffs semifinal, while Indonesia's Sriwijaya and Thai champs Muang Thong United clash in the other.
In the West zone, two-time winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, runners-up in last month's final, will face Uzbek giants Bunyodkorin Group B. The group also includes Iran's Zob Ahan and the winners of the west-zone playoffs, which will pit India's Churchill Brothers against either Syria's Al Karamah or Al Wahda of the UAE.
Iranian champions Esteghlal were drawn in Group A with Qatari champions Al Gharafa, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and Al Jazira of the UAE.
Al Ain of the UAE, the inaugural AFC Champions League winners in 2003, will battle in Group C with Iran's Sepahan, the 2007 runners-up, Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab and Uzbekistan Cup winners Pakhtakor, the only team to have competed in every edition of the event.
Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, winners of the former Asian Club Championship in 1991 and 2000, are in Group D with Iran's Mes Kerman, UAE champions Al Ahli and Qatar's Al Sadd. The 2010 AFC Champions League includes five of the six previous winners.
Japanese trio Kashima, Kawasaki and Gamba are all competing in this week's Emperor's Cup quarterfinals and if one of the three sides win the final on January 1, Japan's fourth spot will be taken by Sanfrecce Hiroshima, fourth in the J. League.
