CHANCE FOR PSMS MEDAN TO BE IN ACL

The 2008 Indonesian league runners-up will face the winner of the SAFFC (Singapore’s S-League champion)-Provincial Electric Authority FC (Thailand’s Premier League champion) clash on 25 Feb 2009 in a one off match.

But even should they make the main draw, the road for PSMS Medan will not be easy in the newly formatted ACL with the qualified team from the play-off being placed in Group G against the likes of Shanghai Shenhua (China), Kashima Antlers (Japan) and Suwon Bluewings (Korea).

”PSMS will only play one match and if they win, they will be in ACL but should they lose, they will still form part of the AFC Cup,” said Joko Driyono, the Competition Director of the Indonesia League Bureau.

Should PSMS make the cut to the ACL, they will join Indonesian League champions Sriwijaya FC in Asia’s premier club tournament which has gone a transformation recently.

Sriwijaya FC gained an automatic qualification into ACL after picking up the Copa Indonesia to add to their league crown.

For the ACL 2009, Sriwijaya FC could not have chosen a more difficult path when they found themselves in Group F – against defending champions Gamba Osaka of Japan, Korea Republic’s FC Seoul and Shandong Luneng of China.

The first round of matches will be played on 10 and 11 March 2009.