Group H of the 2011 AFC Champions League is as tight as ever following draws in both games this week.
Group H of the 2011 AFC Champions League is as tight as ever following draws in both games this week.
Sydney FC and Shanghai Shenhua (China) played out a 1-1 draw at the Sydney Football Stadium while Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korea) and Kashima Antlers (Japan) also finished 1-1 in their fixture at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Click here to see the Group H table and remaining fixtures.
Sydney FC, in its third and final home fixture of the group stage, take on Kashima at the SFS this Wednesday night (8pm kick-off) – 13 April.
Following back-to-back draws in its first two home games, the match looms as a must win for the Sky Blues.
“We want to get as many points as we can at home and tonight was definitely a game that slipped away,” Sydney FC captain Stuart Musialik said.
“So next week (against Kashima) is definitely one we need to win.”
On the other hand Kashima coach Oswaldo Oliveira was satisfied with a hard-earned point against Suwon.
“Both teams were well-organised and it was a tough game,” said the Brazilian.
“In the middle of the first-half we started to play the way we wanted to at the time and in the second-half, we had the chances to score but just didn-t take them.
“Of course it has been a difficult situation. Because we have had no games, we haven-t been able to work on things like shooting or moving the ball around as we would like.
“However, we have been able to work on our mental and physical strength. Overall, the team-s sense of unity was good.
Kashima have two points from two games and are in action next week in a rescheduled match against Sydney FC before hosting Suwon at their temporary Tokyo home.
“Overall, there were lots of positives to take from tonight,” concluded Oliveira.
“We will keep improving as we have more games.”
