JOHOR BARU (19 June 2015) – South China boss Casemiro Mior said that the Hong Kong outfit will have to give due respect to Malaysian side Johor Darul Takzim if they want to advance into the semi-finals of the AFC Cup 2015.
South China have drawn Malaysian champions Johor Darul Takzim or JDT in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup, following the draw that was made yesterday.
“These are the best eight clubs at this stage, so every game is very tough,” said South China coach Casemiro Mior.
“We will have to focus and show respect to the Malaysian team. They are strong and have very good players and we will need to prepare well, but we believe we can reach the next stage.
“Playing the second leg at home gives us a good chance; I would have selected that if I had the choice.
“I hope we can play a very good match in Malaysia and get a good result, and then we’ll play the second leg in front of our fans.”
In the meantime, defending champions Qadsia SC will take on inaugural AFC Cup winners Al Jaish of Syria in the quarter-finals of the 2015 tournament.
Qadsia SC edged out Arbil of Iraq on penalties in last year’s final to ensure the AFC Cup remained in Kuwaiti hands for a third year in a row having lost the 2013 final to domestic rivals Kuwait SC.
And standing in their way of advancing to the semi-finals once again will be the competition’s inaugural champions Al Jaish, who lifted the title in 2004 and are making their first appearance in the knockout stage since lifting the trophy 11 years ago.
Should Qadsia SC advance, they will face either Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim or 2009 semi-finalists South China of Hong Kong.
Three-time champions Kuwait SC, who lost in last year’s quarter-finals, will take on Hong Kong champions Kitchee with either Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol or Malaysia’s Pahang FA awaiting in the semi-finals.
“I feel good about the draw. We’ve been to Malaysia many times, so this is the best result for us,” said Istiklol Team Manager Shahzod Sulaymonov, who helped the AFC Cup debutants win the 2012 AFC President’s Cup as a player.
“We’ll try to encourage many fans to come to the first leg and help us to get a win. Travelling is hard and it will be a long journey to Pahang for the second leg, but we think that it’ll be a little easier playing against an East Asian team, than one from the West.”
The first legs of the quarter-finals will be played on August 25 and 26, with the return fixtures taking place on September 15 and 16.
The semi-finals will also be played on a home-and-away basis with the first legs on September 29 and 30 and the return fixtures on October 20 and 21, with the final to be played as a one-off game on October 31.
The final will be hosted by either Kuwait SC, Kitchee, Istiklol or Pahang following a separate draw.
AFC Cup Quarter-Final Draw
Qadsia SC v Al Jaish
Johor Darul Ta’zim v South China
Kuwait SC v Kitchee
FC Istiklol v Pahang FA
