Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs FLC Thanh Hoa

7:30pm, January 30

Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon

SUWON BLUEWINGS

After finishing a disappointing seventh in 2016, Suwon Samsung Bluewings rebounded superbly in 2017, finishing third and restoring some pride for the two-time continental champions.

While they may have lost their star man and top scorer from last season, Johnathan, who has moved to Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, they have made arguably the biggest signing in K League history by capturing FC Seoul superstar Dejan Damjanovic, the K League’s second highest goal scorer behind Lee Dong-gook.

Coached by club legend Seo Jung-won, who won back-to-back Asian Club Championships with Suwon in 2001 and 2002, they are no strangers to continental competition, playing in the AFC Champions League in seven of the last nine years. They performed well in the group stage last year, losing just one of their six matches, but in a tough group finished third behind Kawasaki Frontale and Guangzhou Evergrande.

In an evenly fought first half, Massimo Maccarone put Brisbane ahead after 35 minutes of play but Ceres' Bienvenido Marañón Morejón equalised just before the break to leave the tie evenly balanced at half-time.

Morejón then doubled the advantage through a 65th minute strike and teammate Omid Nazari made it 3-1 with 15 minutes left.

Brisbane, however, pulled one back after Éric Bauthéac's strike found the net in the 86th minute beating Ceres goalkeeper Toni Doblas.

But it was too little too late for The Roar as Ceres held their nerve until the final whistle to set up a meeting with Tianjin Quanjian on January 30.

In one of the great Asian club football upsets of recent times, Ceres Negros - who only started as a club in 2012 - became the first team from the Philipines to reach the final stage of AFC Champions League qualifying after defeating Australia's Brisbane Roar 3-2 at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

the-AFC.com caught up with two-goal hero Bienvenido Marañón to get his reaction on a special night for football in the Southeast Asian nation.

Q: Hello Bienvenido, firstly congratulations on the incredible result against Brisbane Roar: Ceres Negros are the first Filipino side into the AFC Champions League Play-offs! How are you feeling today, and has it sunk in what the team achieved yet?

I feel very happy, personally and for the team, because it's a reflection of the work this club has put in over these last few years. It's a team that keeps growing and has now put Ceres Negros in the forefront of ASEAN football.

It hasn't really sunk in yet what we have achieved. I couldn't even sleep last night after this historic occasion for us and Filipino football.

Vietnam side Tanh Hoa, who finished runners-up in their domestic V.League 1 last season, were trailing 1-0 after Michel Lugo fired Eastern into the lead after 25 minutes of play.

It was not before long Pape Omar Faye evened  proceedings from the penalty spot, slotting home six minutes later.

After the break, it was the Hoang show as the hitman fired quickfire goals in the 59th and 60th minutes but Eastern scored from the spot through Manuel Bleda Rodriguez in the 64th minute to make it 3-2.

Hoang claimed his third and Thanh Hoa's fourth in stoppage time as the Vietnamese side advanced into the next round for a showdown with Suwon Samsung Bluewings on January 30 in Seoul.

Anatolli Vlasichev's strike in the 26th minute gave TC a 1-0 lead at half-time.

Saif could not, however, find a way back after the break as the Dhivehi Premier League outfit from the Maldives picked up a narrow win and a potentially crucial away goal.

The return leg will be played on January 30 in Male.

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Muanthong had needed a penalty shootout to see off Johor Darul Ta'zim the last time they met in the preliminary stage in 2016 but no such drama was required this time around.

Muangthong enjoyed a dream start, with Sarach Yooyen giving them the lead after just seven minutes at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok.

It was to get better for the Thai side and worse for the Malaysian champions as the home team doubled their lead 14 minutes later through Tristan Do.

Any hope Johor Darul Tazim, the 2015 AFC Cup champions, had of a comeback were dashed when Muanthong were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute.

Heberty Fernandes de Andrade converted and with a healthy lead in the bag, Muangthong took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the first half.

The Brazilian striker, 30, enjoyed considering success at the 2016 tournament, netting 13 times in just 11 games for FC Seoul as the capital city club reached the semi-final, only to lose to eventual winners Jeonbuk.

Adriano's time in China has been a mixed experience with 10 goals in 24 games a reasonable haul, but like his first spell in China, at Dalian Shide in 2011 and 2012, the stint has ended with a move to the K League.

For this season's edition of the AFC Champions League, Jeonbuk have been drawn in Group E alongside Kitchee from Hong Kong and two as yet unknown play-off winners.