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Korea: Seongnam And Chunnam Fight It Out For 2010 Asian Champions League Berth

The K-League season is not yet over...

Nov 25, 2009 12:08:03 AM

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Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma will host Chunnam Dragons in the second round of the K-League playoffs on Wednesday, with the winner of the one-leg tie sealing Korea Republic’s fourth and final spot in next year’s AFC Champions League.

Seongnam, runners-up in the 2004 AFC Champions League, and Chunnam beat Incheon United and FC Seoul respectively on penalties at the weekend after both first-round playoff games finished 1-1 following extra-time.

The winners of Wednesday’s match will travel to face Pohang Steelers in the Steelyard Stadium on Sunday for the chance to take on table-toppers Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the home-and-away playoff final on December 2 and 6.

Jeonbuk and Pohang, winners of the 2006 and 2009 editions of the AFC Champions League respectively, booked places in next year’s competition by finishing first and second in the table, each securing one of the three K-League spots due to the format of the playoffs.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings, the 2008 K-League champions, secured their place in next year’s AFC Champions League by winning the FA Cup earlier this month.

Suwon beat Seongnam on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final. Pohang, Suwon, Seoul and Ulsan Hyundai were Korea Republic’s representatives in this year’s AFC Champions League, with the Steelers beating Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad 2-1 in this month’s one-leg final in Tokyo.

The draw for the 2010 AFC Champions League, which will again feature eight groups of four teams, will be held on December 7 at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

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